COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZMQ) – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a conditional commitment for an up to $1.52 billion loan to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. The loan will protect 600 good-paying local union jobs and clean power for 800,000 homes.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, state Representative Joey Andrews (D-Saint Joseph), and Holtec International held a conference Wednesday morning at the plant to announce the launch.
“Palisades is coming back,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Thanks to an effective collaboration between the Biden-Harris Administration, the State of Michigan, the Michigan Legislature, and Holtec, work will begin shortly to restart operations at Palisades. Once complete, Palisades will become the first successfully restarted nuclear power plant in American history, protecting 600 union jobs at the plant, 1,100 in the community, and access to clean, reliable power for 800,000 homes. We will lead and build the future here in Michigan with our 100% clean energy by 2040 standard, the strongest clean energy labor standards in the nation, and tools to build more renewable energy faster. Let’s keep getting it done.”
Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, Michigan’s congressional delegation, a $150 million investment from the State of Michigan, and Holtec’s implementation efforts, Palisades can become the first successfully restarted nuclear power plant in American history.
“Nuclear power is our single largest source of carbon free electricity, directly supporting 100,000 jobs across the country and hundreds of thousands more indirectly,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is supporting and expanding this vibrant clean energy workforce here in Michigan with significant funding for the Holtec Palisades nuclear power plant.”
“Today’s announcement is a massive step towards restoring 800 megawatts of carbon-free energy generation and hundreds of highly skilled jobs right here in Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Holtec’s historic repowering of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant will provide safe, reliable energy to meet Southwest Michigan’s growing needs, and it lays the groundwork for the first-of-their-kind small modular reactors to be placed at Palisades in the future. For these reasons, I’m proud to have led the bipartisan congressional effort on behalf of this project to lower energy costs, create jobs, and strengthen American energy security.
“This is a monumental moment for Southwest Michigan. Not only will Palisades become the first nuclear power plant to be restarted in American history, but we’re also preserving hundreds of family-sustaining jobs and getting closer to achieving our clean energy goals,” said state Representative Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), whose district includes Palisades. “I recently joined with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce legislation to further spur development of nuclear energy in Michigan, which will draw even more investments and jobs to our region and state. This is truly a cause for celebration.”
“This is a triumph for the United States in our collective pursuit of a clean and dependable energy future. We applaud the visionary leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, Secretary Granholm, Director Shah, and the Department staff for seizing this historic opportunity and once again demonstrating America’s role as a global energy leader,” says Dr. Kris Singh, Holtec President and CEO, adding, “The repowering of Palisades will restore safe, around-the-clock generation to hundreds of thousands of households, businesses, and manufacturers. It also confers the environmental and public health benefits of emissions-free generation, hundreds of high-paying local jobs with a large union workforce, economic growth, and the social benefits of a strong community partner. We are also appreciative of the strong, unwavering support of Governor Whitmer, bipartisan support from the Michigan legislature and congressional delegation, and certainly from the local community, all of whom have championed this effort from the very beginning. As one of the country’s leading energy innovators, we are grateful and ready to help make history.”
