Holtec International has been named one of the ten most influential energy companies by Time Magazine, highlighting its ongoing effort to restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Van Buren County.
Holtec spokesperson Nick Culp tells us everyone on site is excited to see their efforts gaining national recognition.
“Here in our own community, the Palisades restart is obviously a milestone thing that is underway, bringing America’s first nuclear power plant back from decommissioning, back to full-time operation,” Culp said. “It’s a historic moment for the country. We are very honored that they highlighted that, as well as our small modular reactor program.”
In its April 29, 2026 issue, Time cited Holtec’s work to bring the long-idled Palisades plant back online as an example of a broader resurgence in nuclear energy.
Holtec says Palisades should be back online “later this year.” Culp says they’re in the final stretch.
“A lot of that big, heavy, intensive work has been completed, and now it’s really finishing up all of our, what I would call, routine maintenance activities. We call it bulk work, completing that sort of work, and then finishing our testing and inspections in order to load fuel and then bring the plant up to power and then sink to the grid.”
Culp says there’s no official target date, but the goal now is to do everything right the first time.
Holtec says the nuclear industry is closely watching the Palisades project, as its success could influence efforts to revive other shuttered nuclear plants across the country.
