NRC warns Holtec on Palisades safety fears

Employees at the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan face a formal regulatory warning after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found that staff often stay silent about safety issues. The NRC told Holtec International to address a chilled work environment that leaves workers afraid to speak up due to fear of retaliation.

The regulator issued the warning following an inspection conducted in July. That review was prompted by two specific safety incidents and poor performance on licensing exams. The NRC found that the atmosphere at the site has become tense enough to suppress open communication among plant personnel.

During the July and August periods, nine of the fifteen reactor operators failed the initial license examination. Only six individuals received their operator licenses. These test results formed a key part of the regulator's assessment of the plant's readiness for operation.

Two physical incidents also factored into the NRC's decision. In a prior year, a contractor fell into the reactor cavity and swallowed some water. Medical staff decontaminated the worker, but an incident report noted that 300 counts per minute of radiation were still detected in their hair. In August, a bundle of nuclear fuel rods tilted over during a refueling operation, further delaying the project.

Holtec International has never operated a nuclear power plant. The company has secured roughly $2.2 billion in government support for the Palisades effort. The project is being promoted as a key symbol of a domestic nuclear resurgence under the current administration.

Critics of the restart argue that financial and political pressure to revitalize the industry could raise the likelihood of accidents. This pressure is linked to surging energy demand driven by artificial intelligence. The Palisades project is not the only shuttered facility in line for a comeback. Owners of Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa announced restart plans soon after work began at Palisades.