US Report Reveals Higher-Than-Estimated Corrosion at Michigan Nuclear Plant, According to Reuters

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON – Holtec, the firm aiming to reopen the Palisades nuclear reactor in Michigan, has discovered that corrosion cracking in the steam generators is significantly worse than previously estimated, according to a document released by the U.S. nuclear power regulator on Wednesday.

This week, the Biden administration finalized a conditional loan guarantee of $1.52 billion for the Palisades plant as part of its strategy to promote nuclear energy, which produces nearly emissions-free electricity. This effort is seen as crucial in tackling climate change and meeting the growing electricity demands driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and digital currencies.

A spokesperson for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated, “Holtec must ensure the generators will meet NRC requirements if the agency grants approval for the Palisades reactor to resume operations.”

Holtec has expressed its goal to have the plant operational by late next year. However, the company has yet to respond to requests for comment.

An update from a call between the NRC and Holtec in early September revealed that indications of stress corrosion cracking in the steam generator tubes were much higher than estimates based on previous operating history. Specifically, 1,163 steam generator tubes showed signs of stress cracking out of more than 16,000 tubes in total.

The Palisades plant, which closed under a previous owner in 2022, aims to become the first modern U.S. nuclear facility to restart after being fully decommissioned.

The U.S. nuclear regulator indicated last month that preliminary inspection results had identified numerous steam generator tubes requiring further analysis and potential repair. Steam generators are critical components of a nuclear power plant that necessitate careful maintenance and are costly to replace.