Over the past several weeks, the restart project of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Covert Township on Lake Michigan and near South Haven, reported the last of the major projects were successfully closed out.
As a result, the site transitioned from large-scale activities to the remaining routine maintenance, testing, inspection, and operational readiness work required before startup. The cost of the project was not provided.
Among the final accomplishments in this “project phase” of restart was placement of the plant’s turbine-generator on turning gear following extensive inspections, maintenance, testing, and refurbishment activities.
Another achievement was installation and testing of a new state-of-the-art fuel handling machine, an important step fuel handling system in preparing the plant’s power generation equipment for operation.
Together, these projects represent the culmination of a series of major efforts carried out across the station.
They mark a transition in the Palisades restart, which included reactor vessel inspections and replacement of reactor head penetrations, primary system chemical decontamination and passivation, steam generator tube refurbishment and secondary-side cleaning, fuel receipt and inspection, operator training and requalification, and numerous equipment upgrades and modernization projects.
Officials state their focus has been on ensuring that Palisades is ready to support decades of safe, reliable operation.
With the projects phase successfully completed, the plant’s managers, superintendents, and supervisors have shifted their focus to the remaining work through the Operations Command Center (OCC) and several dedicated coordination teams, where work is being managed around the clock to prepare the station for startup.
In recent months, the site has included “engagement” from senior U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) leadership, including Commissioners Douglas Weaver and Bradley Crowell, as well as senior staff from the agency’s Office of the Executive Director for Operations and Office of the Chief Nuclear Reactor Inspector.
During their visits, NRC leaders toured the facility and received updates on ongoing restart activities, according to officials.
Palisades also welcomed U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga, who represents Michigan’s 4th Congressional District and the Palisades community, and U.S. Representative Scott Peters of California, a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, as part of a recent bipartisan congressional delegation visiting the site for an update on the restart.
“The progress being made at Palisades is impressive and reflects the dedication and professionalism of the team carrying out this historic restart,” says Huizenga. “The return of this facility will strengthen energy reliability, support good-paying jobs, and reinforce southwest Michigan’s important role in America’s energy future and the future of nuclear power.”
Palisades states it remains focused on returning the plant to safe and reliable operation once all remaining work is complete and all federal requirements and industry standards are met. No timeline for the restart was provided.
