Holtec receives NRC exemption for two 340‑megawatt reactors at Palisades Energy Center

On August 28, the NRC granted Holtec an exemption that allows the company to construct permanent excavation walls for Pioneer Units 1 and 2 at the Palisades Energy Center in Covert, Michigan. The exemption covers diaphragm walls, soldier‑pile soil‑mix walls, and perimeter cutoff walls, each with tieback anchors or struts as needed.

The walls will be built before the full construction permit is issued, and Holtec will use inclinometers, piezometers, load cells, and extensometers to monitor wall stability, groundwater pressure, and ground movement during excavation. NRC staff reviewed the design and confirmed that the walls will not interfere with the future reactor structures.

The exemption also requires geologists to map each layer as walls are installed, and Holtec must keep NRC inspectors informed throughout the process. The project is part of a $400 million Department of Energy award, and the wall construction is a key step toward adding 680 megawatts of new power to Michigan.

Read the full story at autonocion.com.