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Holtec gets $1.52 billion US loan to reboot nuclear plant

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). stated on Wednesday it would lend Holtec International $1.52. billion to assist restart an 800MW nuclear reactor in. Michigan that was closed down in 2022, potentially making it the. initially nuclear plant to be recommissioned in the United States.

The conditional loan by the Energy Department's loan program. workplace was licensed through passage of the Inflation Reduction. Act in 2022. The loan depends on Holtec meeting numerous. technical, legal, environmental, and financial conditions,. according to the DOE loan office.

The Biden administration has actually stated that nuclear energy will. play a crucial role in decarbonizing the country's power grid by. 2035 and the entire economy by 2050.

The re-started Palisades plant would prevent 4.47 million. tonnes of CO2 emissions every year for an overall of 111 million. tonnes of CO2 emissions during its projected 25 years of. operation.

Florida-based Holtec stated the plant would utilize more than. 600 workers, with about 45% of the workforce at the website coming. from union labor once it's rebooted.

The business also prepares to build what will be its very first two. little modular reactor (SMR) systems at the site, which will not be. part of the project that is qualified for the loan.

NuScale's SMR innovation is the only one to have. gotten style accreditation from the U.S. nuclear power. regulator in 2015. However the company has actually faced cost and. membership problems and needed to shelve one of its SMR jobs.

Holtec initially purchased Palisades in 2022 from Entergy. to decommission the plant as it struggled to contend. with natural gas-fired plants and renewable energy, however began. looking into reopening the shut reactor.

The business has actually likewise currently signed long-lasting Power Purchase. Contracts (PPAs) with electrical co-ops Wolverine Power. Cooperative and Hoosier Energy in Michigan, Illinois, and. Indiana.

Holtec is pursuing a reauthorization of the Palisades. running license with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

in January reported that the business remained in talks. for the loan from the DOE for the plant.

(source: Reuters)