Michigan nuclear plant prepares to restart amid growing support and local pushback

PalisadesnuclearplantinsouthwestMichiganisontracktobecomethefirstfullyshutteredU.S.commercialreactortorestart,thankstobipartisanbackingandmajorfederalandstateinvestment. Francisco“A.J.”CamachoandDavielSchulmanreportforE&ENews. Inshort: ThePalisadesplant,closedsince2022,issettoreopenthisfallwith$1.8billioningovernmentfunding,anewpowerpurchaseagreement,andstrongsupportfromlocalofficialsandresidents.EnvironmentalandIndigenousactivistsopposetherestart,citingrisksfromaginginfrastructure,radioactivewaste,andalackofconsultationwithlocaltribes.Theplant’srevivalmaysetaglobalprecedentandisbeingcloselywatchedbyoperatorsofothershutteredreactors,includingThreeMileIslandandDuaneArnold.Keyquote: “Notonlyisitmakingthepeoplesick,it’smakingthelandsicktoo.” —JesseDeerinWater,CherokeeNationofOklahoma,andmemberoftheMichiganEnvironmentalJusticeCoalition Whythismatters: Asenergydemandgrowsandpressuremount