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Arkansas Nuclear One
Palisades Power Plant
Taking its name from the surrounding barrier sand dunes on the
eastern shore of Lake Michigan, Entergy’s Palisades Power Plant has been
generating electricity safely, reliably and cost-effectively since December
31, 1971. On April 11, 2007, Entergy completed the plant purchase from
Consumers Energy for $380 million. The purchase also included receipt of the
used fuel at Consumers’ decommissioned Big Rock Point Nuclear Plant, located
in Charlevoix in northwestern Lower Michigan.
The Palisades site covers 432 acres in western Covert
Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, which is located approximately six
miles south of the city of South Haven and 45 miles west of the city of
Kalamazoo. The unique sand dune environment on the site provides shelter for
a plant – the Pitcher’s Thistle – that is on federal and state threatened
species lists. With a cream-colored leaf and yellow flower, the thistle can
grow up to three and one-half feet tall only in Great Lakes sand dunes.
Palisades’ presence guarantees the Pitcher’s Thistle survival there.
Palisades is one of Van Buren County’s largest employers and
is its largest taxpayer. As such, great importance has been placed in
employee community involvement. Many of the 700 plant workers are involved
in charitable groups, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way and civic
organizations, as well as holding leadership roles and elected offices on
local school, township and community boards.
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Palisades Power Plant |
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Owner: |
Energy Nuclear Palisades, LLC |
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Capacity: |
798 MW |
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Reactor Type: |
Pressurized Water Reactor |
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Reactor Manufacturer: |
Combustion Engineering |
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Turbine Generator Manufacturer:
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Westinghouse |
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Commercial Operation Date:
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Dec. 1971 |
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License Expiration Date:
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2031 |
Palisades Nuclear Energy Prevents Emissions
Generating electricity with nuclear energy prevents the emission of
pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse
gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with burning fossil fuels.
During 2009, environmental emissions avoided due to nuclear power plant
operation in Michigan included 83,470 short tons of sulfur dioxide, 19,162 short
tons of nitrogen oxide and 20.02 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
Emissions of SO2 lead to the formation of acid rain. NOx is a key precursor
of both ground-level ozone and smog. Greenhouse gases like CO2 contribute to
global warming.
Source: Emissions avoided by nuclear power are calculated using regional
fossil fuel emissions rates from the Environmental Protection Agency and plant
generation data from the Energy Information Administration.
Palisades Power Plant – News
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Palisades’ Named Best of the Best
Entergy’s Palisades Power Plant work with AREVA on development of the
gimbaled head for conducting remote reactor head inspections was named “Best
of the Best” from 14 other category winners for the industry’s top
recognition at the Nuclear Energy Institute’s 2010 Nuclear Energy Assembly. |
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New Joint Information Center for Michigan
Palisades dedicated a new combined Emergency Operations Facility and
Joint Information Center in Benton Harbor for the purpose of increasing our
ability to communicate with the public and our stakeholders in the event of
an emergency. |
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Palisades Produces Record Generation
Palisades completed its 21st refueling outage in less than 27 days, the
shortest refueling outage in plant history, which contributed to the plant
ending 2010 with a new outage-year generation record for the site –
6,241,286 megawatt-hours net. |
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