NRC ReviewSMR (LWR)
Palisades SMRs
📍 Covert, MI (Van Buren County Co.)Developer: Holtec InternationalVendor / Tech: Holtec International
Capacity
600 MW
Expected Operation
2030+
Reactor Type
SMR-300 (PWR)
Regulatory Status
Part 1 of phased construction permit application (with limited work authorization request) docketed 2026-02-13; NRC environmental impact statement scoping began 2026-06-15; NRC granted exemption 2026-08-28 allowing early site work (support-of-excavation and cutoff walls) before LWA; Part 2 due by mid-2027.
Details
Primary Use
Power generation
Grid Connection
MISO
Fuel Type
LEU
Construction Start
2026
Research detail · verified 2026-10-10
Stage
Application under NRC review
Commercial power
Yes
NRC docket
50-616, 50-617 (NRC-2026-0265)
Stated target operation
Unit 1 2030, Unit 2 2031 (Holtec presentation, Sept 2025); 'early 2030s' (Holtec as reported by ANS 2026-04-02 and Neutron Bytes 2026-01-11)
Stated construction jobs
4,000+ personnel during construction of the dual-unit plant (Holtec presentation, Sept 2025)
Stated operations jobs
280 direct long-term jobs plus supply chain (Holtec presentation, Sept 2025)
Key dates
2025-02 Holtec 'Mission 2030' launched; 2025-12-02 DOE selected project for Gen III+ SMR Tier 1 First Mover award (~$400M, subject to negotiation); 2025-12-31 CP application Part 1 submitted; 2026-02-13 NRC found Part 1 acceptable for docketing; 2026-06-15 EIS notice of intent / scoping; 2026-08-28 NRC exemption for early site work; Holtec requested NRC approval of Part 1 by 2026-12-31; Part 2 due mid-2027
Workforce
Holtec says the SMR-300 project will build on the workforce assembled for the Palisades restart (Holtec presentation, Sept 2025). Hyundai E&C alliance to build the Palisades project and a 10 GW SMR-300 fleet.
Not verified / conflicts
This is an SMR, included here because the caller assigned it to this scope; de-duplicate against the SMR list. Target date conflict: Holtec's Sept 2025 slides say 2030/2031; 2026 reporting says 'early 2030s'. DOE award: Holtec S-1 says ~$400M expected but terms not final; an ANS tag-page summary mentioned a $94M DOE award in May 2026 that I could not confirm. A search-result summary quoted '2,000 personnel during construction', but the Holtec slide itself says 4,000+; the slide figure is used.
Sources
- https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-03943.pdf
- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-22/html/2026-01143.htm
- https://www.ans.org/news/2026-06-16/article-8126/nrc-launches-environmental-review-of-holtecs-newbuild-plans-for-palisades/
- https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/holtec-smr-project-gets-regulatory-nod-for-early-site-work
- https://www.ans.org/news/2026-04-02/article-7901/holtec-hits-milestones-in-palisades-restart-new-reactor-projects/
- https://neutronbytes.com/2026/01/11/holtec-submits-license-application-to-nrc-for-the-palisades-twin-smr-300s/
- https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002104277/000119312526301023/d40440ds1.htm
- https://www.rowan.edu/ric-edelman-college/centers/sweeney_center/docs/e21-final-sep.2025-nj-energy-conf-panel2-tfm.pdf
- https://tdworld.com/distributed-energy-resources/news/55271370/holtec-launches-mission-2030-to-deploy-smr-300-at-palisades-site-in-michigan
About
Two 300 MW SMRs co-located at Palisades site. Construction permit application targeted 2026.
Key Organizations
Developer
Holtec International
Federal Funding
DOE
DOE Funding ·
DOE LPO $800M (Generation III SMR program)
—
awarded
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Michigan