AI is bringing old nuclear plants out of retirement
11 hours ago
- #energy-policy
- #nuclear-energy
- #AI-power-demand
- The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan is set to reopen in early 2026, becoming the first U.S. nuclear plant to restart after decommissioning.
- The revival is driven by surging electricity demand from AI, data storage, and manufacturing, with support from state and federal funding.
- Michigan allocated $300 million, and the federal government provided a $1.5 billion loan to aid the plant's restart.
- The Biden and Trump administrations have both pushed for nuclear energy expansion, aiming to quadruple U.S. nuclear power by 2050.
- Restarting old plants is cheaper and faster than building new ones, costing less than a third of new construction.
- Palisades' reopening has attracted former employees and new hires, with training underway in a replica control room.
- Local communities, like Covert, Michigan, benefit economically from the plant's jobs and tax revenue.
- Environmental groups oppose the restart, citing concerns about radioactive waste storage near the Great Lakes.
- Three Mile Island's remaining reactor is also being revived, backed by a $1 billion federal loan, to power Microsoft's data centers.
- Critics argue nuclear power risks public safety, pointing to unresolved waste issues and past disasters like Three Mile Island.
- Experts note that restarting old plants and uprating existing ones can only meet a fraction of the projected AI-driven electricity demand.