The United States is taking steps to reactivate three nuclear power plants that had begun the process of shutting down. This initiative aims to address the increasing electricity demand from large data centres and various industries, as reported by the Press Trust of India.

The US Department of Energy is providing financial support of up to $4.4 billion for the revival of the Palisades Power Plant in Michigan, the Crane Clean Energy Centre at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island, and the Duane Arnold Energy Centre in Iowa. Collectively, these plants have the potential to generate 2.25 gigawatts of electricity, sufficient to supply power to approximately two million homes and businesses.

Challenges and Opportunities in Restarting Plants

Historically, no commercial nuclear reactor has resumed operations after entering permanent closure, although some have restarted following lengthy outages. The three plants in question ceased operations before their licenses expired, primarily due to the high cost of the electricity they produced.

However, two of these facilities have secured contracts with major technology firms willing to pay a premium for large quantities of carbon-free electricity for their data centres. The Trump administration has also been advocating for nuclear energy as a solution for artificial intelligence and manufacturing, providing substantial funding for upgrades to enhance the output of existing nuclear facilities.

Nuclear engineering expert Todd Allen noted that restarting a reactor is generally a quicker and less costly method of securing significant electricity supplies compared to constructing a new reactor. He likened the process to restarting an idle car, emphasising that while it is complex, it is manageable. Plant owners will need to rehire nuclear workers, update training, inspect equipment, secure fuel supplies, and request regulatory approval to reinstate their operating licenses.

Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, highlighted the importance of using taxpayer funds to address safety concerns. Most US nuclear plants were built between 1970 and 1990, designed to withstand the natural disasters anticipated at that time. With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, Lyman stressed the need for adequate safety measures and funding to restore these plants to operational status.

Specific Plans for Each Plant

The Duane Arnold facility, Iowa’s sole nuclear power plant, began operations in 1975 and was slated for permanent closure in October 2020. It closed earlier, in August 2020, following damage from a severe storm. NextEra Energy, the plant’s owner, is collaborating with Google to aim for a restart by early 2029. The company has expressed optimism about the plant’s condition and the feasibility of its revival.

Palisades, which operated from 1971 until its closure in 2022, is further along in the revival process. After its owner, Entergy, exited the nuclear power sector, Holtec International acquired the plant and began dismantling it. However, the steps taken so far are not irreversible. The Biden administration has approved a $1.5 billion loan for the plant’s restart, with Holtec recently commencing the loading of nuclear fuel.

The Crane Clean Energy Centre at Three Mile Island, notorious for the 1979 nuclear accident, is also in line for revival. Exelon, the previous owner, closed its only functioning reactor in 2019 due to financial losses. In 2024, Constellation Energy announced plans to invest $1.6 billion to restart the reactor, supported by a $1 billion loan from the Energy Department. The facility is projected to be operational again by 2027.

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