Holtec International began loading fresh fuel into the reactor vessel at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert, Michigan, on Sunday morning, September 7, 2026. As first reported by energiesmedia.com, the operation marks a critical procedural step toward returning the facility to service after its shutdown in May 2022 under previous owner Entergy.
What it means
The entry into Mode 6, the technical designation for the refueling stage under the plant’s specifications, signals that the pressurized water reactor is progressing through established pre-approved sequences. Holtec International acquired the facility with the specific objective of restarting operations, a process supported by a loan from the Department of Energy. Staff initiated the loading of the 204 fuel assemblies required for the core without any reported safety or procedural irregularities.
Fuel loading is a mandatory prerequisite before a nuclear reactor can return to power generation. Following this phase, the plant must complete criticality testing and power ascension procedures before it can produce electricity. The restart effort represents a reversal of the 2022 closure, moving the facility from decommissioning preparations back toward active energy production in Michigan.
Key facts
- Date of fuel loading start: September 7, 2026
- Location: Covert, Michigan
- Owner/Operator: Holtec International
- Reactor type: Pressurized water reactor
- Fuel assemblies in core: 204
- Current operational mode: Mode 6 (refueling stage)
- Previous shutdown date: May 2022 by Entergy
- Funding support: Department of Energy loan
Source: energiesmedia.com