If the Palisades restart, along with solar and wind projects, are so economically wise, why do they require billions of dollars in Federal Government subsidies?
MPSC chair acknowledges the Palisades restart and its Federal Government funding are important to be able to close the Campbell in 2025:
“… If Palisades is brought back online, it would add 800 megawatts of electricity to Michigna’s energy grid, enough to power 800,000 homes. That amount of carbon-free electricity coming back online “brings us a really significant step closer to meeting those legislative targets,” said Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission. “I think it’s absolutely an essential part of our energy mix.” Without it, he added, “it certainly makes a steep hill steeper.” Palisades’ restart would come within a few months of one of Michigan’s last coal plants’ planned retirement of three units, making the need for energy more urgent, Scripps said…The future of funding for such projects is unclear under the Trump administration…“We’re still asking the NRC to do something that they’ve never done before,” Scripps said.” – https://planetdetroit.org/2025/02/palisades-nuclear-plant-reopening/
Thankfully, the Trump Administration is placing this waste of taxpayer dollars on hold:
“$21 billion for clean energy in Michigan being rescinded, held back or canceled by Trump administration
The Trump administration has rescinded or frozen previously approved funds amounting to nearly $21 billion for Michigan clean energy projects…$20 billion dollars in loans or loan guarantees for clean energy projects by Consumers Energy and DTE Energy and others, including the $1.5 billion loan guarantee for reopening the Palisades nuclear plant are being held up…” – https://www.michiganpublic.org/environment-climate-change/2025-02-14/21-billion-for-clean-energy-in-michigan-being-rescinded-held-back-or-canceled-by-trump-administration
By every important measure keeping the Campbell plant operating is the more practical route in providing:
- Reliable electric
- Affordable electric
- Environmental safety
The programs that need Federal Government subsidy fail on all three measures.