VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In what sounds like the plot of a sci-fi sequel, the Michigan Palisades Nuclear Plant in Van Buren County’s Covert Township is gearing up to become the first decommissioned nuclear plant in U.S. history to restart operations.
If all goes according to plan, media reports say that the southwest Michigan facility is now eyeing a restart in late March, following extended maintenance and additional scrutiny from federal regulators. The timeline has stretched as inspectors requested more details on repairs and safety systems. Ultimately the schedule depends on completing required testing and inspections to satisfy federal regulators and industry standards.
Federal backing, big bets.
MORE NEWS: ‘KKK!’ Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s Disgusting Display During the State of the Union.
The project is backed by federal funding and buoyed by optimistic projections – including expectations that electricity demand will climb to power data centers, electric vehicles and other energy-hungry technologies – along with the hope that construction costs for future nuclear projects will eventually come down.
Holtec International, the owner, is also seeking permission to build a separate, new nuclear generating station immediately adjacent to the current site. Completion is projected for the early 2030s, pending regulatory approval and construction milestones.
Governor backs Palisades as clean energy pillar.
Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been an outspoken supporter of restarting the Palisades Nuclear Plant, framing it as a cornerstone of the state’s clean-energy and economic strategy.
Her administration helped secure roughly $300 million in Michigan taxpayer funding to support the restart effort, alongside a $1.52 billion federal loan package. Whitmer has argued the investment will preserve jobs, stabilize the grid, and position Michigan as a national leader in advanced nuclear energy.
Trump is also on board with nuclear.
While Whitmer has championed Palisades at the state level, President Donald Trump has likewise embraced nuclear power as a cornerstone of his administration’s energy agenda. Through a series of executive orders focused on expanding domestic energy production and streamlining federal permitting, Trump has pushed to reduce regulatory hurdles and accelerate development of advanced nuclear technologies.
