Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Damaged fuel assembly recovered at Michigan reactor facing restart scrutiny
Holtec recovered a nuclear fuel assembly that tipped over during refuelling at the Palisades plant in Covert, Michigan.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the August incident released no radiation, and the plant’s owner says work to restart the reactor will continue.
Palisades shut down in 2022, and Holtec bought it with plans to bring it back into operation.
Its restart has become part of a wider US push to expand nuclear power, driven in part by the energy needs of artificial intelligence data centres.
Critics have raised concerns about safety and workplace culture, including an NRC finding that some supply-chain and quality-assurance staff were hesitant to report concerns for fear of retaliation.
Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen has sent his concerns to Democratic Senator Edward Markey, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has backed the restart.
Holtec says it is addressing the concerns, and the company says efforts to resume operations will continue.
Holtec International said a damaged fuel assembly that tipped over at the Palisades nuclear reactor in Michigan had been retrieved.
The recovery allows efforts to restart the reactor to continue, the company said.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the assembly tipped during fuelling in August and that no radiation was released.
Critics have escalated concerns about the restart to Congress, while Holtec and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have supported the effort.
The reactor was shut down in 2022 and is being prepared for a restart.
- Who
- Holtec International recovered the assembly; critics including nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen oppose the restart.
- What
- A fuel assembly that tipped over at the Palisades reactor was retrieved as restart efforts continue.
- When
- The assembly tipped in August; Holtec announced the recovery on Wednesday, October 21.
- Where
- The Palisades reactor in Covert, Michigan.
- Why
- Holtec said the recovery enables restart work to continue; critics say the restart raises safety concerns.
Holtec and restart supporters
Restart critics
Safety
Holtec and restart supporters
Holtec said the recovery showed its commitment to safety, technical rigour and teamwork.
Restart critics
Arnie Gundersen said the restart is unsafe and cited concerns about the assembly incident, operator exams and workplace safety.
Restart
Holtec and restart supporters
Holtec said efforts to resume operations could continue after the recovery.
Restart critics
Gundersen said the NRC's permission to begin loading fuel again was troubling.
The Palisades reactor first went online.
The reactor was shut down and later bought by Holtec.
A fuel assembly tipped over during fuelling, according to the NRC, which said no radiation was released.
A worker fell from a refuelling bridge into a pool of water and was not seriously injured.
Holtec said the damaged assembly had been retrieved and restart efforts could continue.
- Reactor
- Palisades nuclear reactor
- Location
- Covert, Michigan
- Owner
- Holtec International
- Shutdown
- 2022
- Assembly incident
- Tipped during fuelling in August; NRC said no radiation was released
- Recovery announcement
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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What people are saying
When we encounter a challenge, what matters is how we respond
Simply put, restarting the 55-year-old Palisades reactor is unsafe.
taking actions to address these issues and will continue our work to maintain and strengthen a healthy safety-conscious work environment