Palisades restart stalls as 60% of trainees fail licensing exams

The restart of the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan faces mounting regulatory scrutiny after a high failure rate on licensing exams. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a formal warning to Holtec International, the operator seeking to bring the shuttered facility back online. This project is a central component of the federal administration's effort to revive the domestic nuclear industry.

The regulatory action follows a timeline of operational issues at the site. In July, the NRC conducted an inspection prompted by questions regarding safety awareness. That review came after a contractor fell into the reactor cavity the previous year. The worker swallowed water and required off-site medical care. Decontamination crews treated the individual, though an incident report noted 300 counts per minute of radiation were still detected in their hair. A second incident occurred in August when a bundle of fuel rods tilted during refueling. That mechanical failure delayed the anticipated first restart of a closed reactor in the United States.

The NRC report details specific personnel metrics from the recent period. Nine of the 15 reactor operators failed the initial license examination administered in July and August. Only six individuals received operator licenses. The regulator described the site's atmosphere as a chilled work environment. According to the agency, employees are reluctant to voice safety concerns due to a fear of retaliation.

Holtec International has never operated a nuclear power plant before this assignment. The company has secured approximately $2.2 billion in government support for the Palisades effort. Officials have promoted the project as a symbol of a national nuclear resurgence. Critics argue that financial and political pressures to revitalize the sector could increase the likelihood of accidents. They cite surging energy demand driven by artificial intelligence as a primary factor in the push for rapid restarts.

Palisades is part of a wider trend in the nuclear sector. Owners of two other plants previously slated for decommissioning have announced similar plans. Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa are both in line for potential comebacks. These announcements followed the start of work at Palisades.

The NRC requires Holtec to address the identified safety climate issues. The regulator expects the company to resolve the conditions that led to the exam failures and the reluctance of staff to report concerns. Holtec must demonstrate that the work environment supports open communication on safety matters. The next steps involve the operator implementing corrective actions to satisfy the commission's requirements.