Residents and advocacy groups are urging the federal government to hold a hearing in order to halt the reopening of a nuclear power plant in Southwest Michigan.
The Palisades nuclear plant, which shut down in 2022, is now undergoing the process of restarting. It is worth noting that no closed nuclear plant has ever reopened in the past.
Kevin Kamps, a member of the organization Beyond Nuclear, expressed his concerns about the potential risks associated with the presence of certain activities near Lake Michigan.
“We are actively working towards establishing ourselves as legal parties in this proceeding, with our ultimate objective being to prevent the restart,” Kamps expressed.
Last week, Beyond Nuclear submitted a petition to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, requesting a hearing to present their arguments against the plant’s restart.
According to the petition, Holtec, the company responsible for the decommissioning of the Palisades nuclear plant, has been accused of a consistent pattern of misleading and misrepresenting information.
Beyond Nuclear, along with two other groups, claims that Holtec had always intended to reopen the plant but concealed its intentions from regulators in order to secure the deal. The petition argues that Holtec is currently unable to operate the plant as it lacks an operating license from the NRC and only holds a “possession only” license.
“We have submitted all the necessary licenses to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to support our plan to reauthorize power operations at Palisades. This path aligns with the existing regulatory framework set by the NRC,” stated Nicholas Culp, a spokesperson from Holtec, via email.
Despite facing opposition from Beyond Nuclear and other local groups, the proposal to restart Palisades has garnered widespread support from both local and national leaders. To aid in the restoration of the plant, the U.S. Department of Energy has extended a loan of $1.5 billion, contingent upon obtaining the necessary licensing approvals. Additionally, the state of Michigan has pledged $150 million in support. The Covert Township board, situated in the vicinity of the plant, has passed a resolution endorsing the restart, as has the city council in nearby South Haven.
Supporters of the restart argue that it would have a positive impact on the local economy, as it would bring back 600 high-paying jobs. Additionally, they believe that the Palisades nuclear power plant, with its capacity of 800,000 megawatts, would provide a valuable source of carbon-free energy, which is particularly important in Michigan’s current energy landscape.
Kamps, on the other hand, believes that reopening a closed nuclear plant on the shores of Lake Michigan is not a risk worth taking. He points to previous nuclear disasters as a stark reminder of the potential dangers involved.
“I urge individuals to treat their democracy with utmost importance and engage in meaningful conversations with their elected representatives at every level,” Kamps emphasized. “The incidents at Fukushima and Chernobyl demonstrate that a nuclear disaster can have far-reaching consequences, impacting communities located hundreds or even thousands of miles away.”
