Holtec Restarts Palisades as First Decommissioned U.S. Nuclear Plant
Holtec International transitioned the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant back to operational status, marking the first time a decommissioned U.S. reactor has been recommissioned.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission officially changed the designation of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant from decommissioning to operating on August 25, 2025. This regulatory shift makes the facility in Covert Township, Michigan, the first nuclear plant in United States history to return to operational status after entering the decommissioning phase.
Holtec International, the plant's owner, announced the transition following a July 2024 licensing approval. While the plant is not yet generating electricity, the status change authorizes the facility to receive nuclear fuel. Holtec is currently refurbishing electrical systems, repairing steam generators, and reassembling the main generator and turbine. The company targets a full restart by the fourth quarter of 2025, with an expected output of over 800 megawatts of electricity.
The project is supported by a $1.5 billion loan from the United States Department of Energy and $300 million in state funding, secured through bipartisan cooperation. Holtec intends to apply for a license renewal in early 2026 to extend operations until 2051 and plans to install two 300-MW small modular reactors at the site by 2030.
Beyond Nuclear has condemned the restart, characterizing the project as a risky and expensive scheme. Conversely, Holtec leadership and supporting officials describe the milestone as an unprecedented achievement for U.S. energy security that sets a precedent for other shuttered reactors across the country.
