US report says corrosion at Michigan nuclear plant is higher than Reuters estimates

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Holtec, the company seeking to reopen Michigan’s Palisades nuclear reactor, found corrosion cracking in steam generators “far exceeded” estimates, the U.S. nuclear power regulator said in a filing Wednesday.

President Joe Biden’s administration this week finalized a $1.52 billion conditional loan guarantee for the Palisades plant. It’s part of an administration effort to support nuclear power, which generates virtually zero emissions, to reduce climate change and help meet growing demand for electricity from artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and digital currency.

A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said, “Holtec must ensure that the generators will meet NRC requirements if the agency authorizes Palisades to return to operational status.”

Holtec, which said it wants to bring the plant back into operation late next year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A summary of an early September call between the NRC and Holtec released Wednesday said indications of stress corrosion cracking in tubes in both of the plant’s steam generators “far exceed estimates based on past operating history.” 1,163 steam generating tubes were found to have evidence of stress cracking. There are more than 16,000 tubes in the units.

Palisades, which closed under different ownership in 2022, is trying to be the first modern U.S. nuclear power plant to reopen after being completely shut down.

The U.S. nuclear regulator said last month that preliminary inspection results “identified a large number of steam generator tubes with indications that require further analysis and/or repair.”

Steam generators are sensitive components of a nuclear power plant that require meticulous maintenance and are expensive to replace.