NRC Orders Holtec to Address Safety Culture Concerns at Palisades Nuclear Plant

Holtec faces a March 2027 deadline to begin supplying power to customers who have secured an additional $1.3 billion in government funding to purchase electricity from the Palisades nuclear plant.

NRC cites workplace culture concerns

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission told Holtec that it must quickly address workplace culture concerns to prevent further “cultural decline” within the affected departments. The NRC will require Holtec to correct the problem and review the company’s plans within 30 days.

However, the NRC downplayed the immediate risk to the public, saying mitigation measures ensured that the plant’s safety was not compromised.

Holtec says fuel assembly was recovered safely

In a statement to the Financial Times, Holtec said it takes the issues identified by the NRC seriously and is addressing them to ensure the safe operation of the plant.

The company also said a tipped fuel assembly was successfully recovered without spilling, calling the operation a “remarkable demonstration of technical ingenuity.”

“A highly safety-conscious work environment is a cornerstone of our culture,” Holtec said. “Any claims that we were in a hurry were directly refuted by the work accomplished.”

Worker injured in reactor cavity fall

Holtec said a worker who fell into the reactor cavity last year suffered minor injuries and returned to work immediately.

Holtec faces earlier governance disputes

Holtec is transitioning from a nuclear parts and services supplier to a reactor designer and plant operator. The company has previously faced governance issues, including whistleblower lawsuits and legal disputes involving former executives over allegations of financial misrepresentation, executive retaliation and fraud.

Holtec founder and chief executive Chris Singh denied the claims in a preliminary interview with the Financial Times.

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