NRC opens environmental review of Holtec's Palisades SMRs

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission launched its environmental review of Holtec's plan to build two SMR-300 small modular reactors at the Palisades site in Covert, Michigan, opening a public comment period that runs through July 15 under docket NRC-2026-0265. The twin 340-MWe pressurized-water units, dubbed Pioneer-1 and -2, would sit alongside the 777-MWe Palisades reactor Holtec is restarting, following the company's December submission of the first part of a two-part construction permit application. Holtec expects to file Part 2 by roughly mid-2027.