Where is palisades nuclear plant

Both sites are presently owned by Entergy Corp. Holtec says it can accelerate the decommissioning and wants the NRC to approve its transfer application by December.

Both sites occupy the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Big Rock was razed in and little remains there besides a spent nuclear fuel storage facility. Palisades would close next year and Holtec wants to move the spent fuel to a new temporary atomic waste repository that would be built in New Mexico if the regulatory commission gives its approval.

Department of Energy will begin taking title to spent nuclear fuel by and that the company will get approval to use nuclear decommissioning trust funds for Palisades site restoration and waste management. Such a timeline makes no sense given the longstanding difficulties the federal government has faced in developing a permanent nuclear waste depository, Nessel argues.

During a confirmation hearing in February, new U. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said she opposes restarting the licensing process for the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada.

Nessel is requesting the NRC hold a hearing on the matter. A coalition of environmental groups also petitioned to intervene last week, alleging similar financial concerns and arguing that Holtec has a poor corporate track record.

Nuclear plants in the U. The Palisades plant employs about workers and began generating electricity in Located on the shore of Lake Michigan near South Haven, Palisades is the oldest of three operating nuclear power plants in the state. A new joint venture between Holtec International, a privately held U.

Holtec just announced plans last month to buy Indian Point in New York. If the sales go through, the company would own six reactors at four locations, including Palisades.

Holtec has experience with nuclear waste storage and transportation. As the U. The proposed sale includes the plant, the license, Big Rock Point and the waste that's already on site at Palisades. Currently, Entergy meets those financial requirements because the fund is expected to continue to grow.

Holtec makes dry casks, these giant water heater-looking canisters, where spent fuel is stored. Palisades already has 46 loaded casks with spent fuel on site. Holtec is also operating under the assumption that the NRC will give it the green light to open a new, underground facility to stash this high level waste. Department of Energy to provide necessary funding to transport and store the used nuclear fuel… to New Mexico. If Holtec can use its own storage casks, and do its own transport to its own storage facility, that would likely make the decommissioning more affordable.

NRC gives plants up to 60 years to decommission. The NRC regulates decommissioning. It ensures a company has the technical expertise and financial resources to decommission a plant.

It also completes a radiological survey on the site to make sure radiation levels meet specific standards. So, in other states with Entergy-owned plants, like Vermont and Massachusetts , state lawmakers have passed legislation setting up citizen advisory councils. They serve two main goals. To gather public feedback for decommissioning plans and future use.

And they try to disseminate accurate, updated information to the public and stakeholders about the decommissioning process. According to The Boston Globe , the Massachusetts advisory panel grilled a Holtec official last month and the company provided few answers to basic questions. But there are some residents in southwest Michigan who are interested in creating something like it. In the meantime, the NRC is welcoming the public to an open house this week.

We will remain engaged and transparent with the community throughout continued operations and as we transition into decommissioning," Palisades spokesperson Val Gent added.