Will the restarted Palisades nuclear plant send electricity to the grid by March 31, 2027?

Palisades in Michigan is set to be the first US reactor to return from decommissioning. Fuel loading began on August 30, but one fuel assembly tilted inside the reactor and work paused while regulators review a plan to remove it.

How this question entered the record and how it will be resolved.

Resolution criteria

Resolves Yes if, on or before March 31, 2027, Holtec or the NRC confirms that Palisades has synchronized to the grid and delivered electricity, or the NRC Power Reactor Status Report shows Palisades above 0% power on any day up to that date. Resolves No otherwise.

Expected resolution

Mar 31, 2027

• ANS Nuclear Newswire, October 8, 2026: NRC reviewing Holtec's emergency license amendment to recover a tilted fuel assembly; loading paused
• Palisades reconnected to its 345 kV switchyard on September 11, 2026

Holtec has already missed several restart targets, and the tilted assembly adds a first of its kind recovery job before core loading can finish.

• NRC approval of the license amendment
• Completion of core loading and first criticality
• New equipment or inspection findings