Nuclear power becomes hot topic in Michigan

Following this week’s announcement of a $1.5 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to work on reopening a closed nuclear power plant in West Michigan, the topic of nuclear energy is fresh on the minds of state residents.

According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Michigan ranks 11th among the 50 states in total energy use with nuclear electric power as the state’s fourth most-consumed energy source after natural gas, motor gasoline and coal. Officials believe that reopening Palisades, a nuclear power plant that has an 800-megawatt capacity, is key to significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Here’s what you might want to know about nuclear energy and Michigan’s power plants.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is produced by nuclear fission, when the nucleus of an atom splits apart into two smaller atoms and releases a boatload of energy. The energy released by the nuclear fission process is then used to heat water into steam, which is then used to spin a turbine and create energy.

The process produces radioactive waste, which may prove difficult to dispose of permanently, for the time being, but nuclear power sources are much more energy-dense than fossil fuel sources; one 1-inch pellet of uranium churns out as much energy as 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 120 gallons of oil or one ton of coal, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says that nuclear power is currently responsible for around 25 percent of the world’s lowcarbon electricity production, helping reduce carbon emissions.

The history of Michigan’s nuclear power plants

Michigan’s first and the country’s fifth commercial nuclear power plant was constructed at Big Rock Point, just outside of Charlevoix, in 1959. The plant began producing energy for surrounding communities in 1965 but was later shut down in 1997 due to increasing operational costs.

An experimental breeder reactor power plant, Fermi 1, which used a liquid sodium coolant instead of a water coolant like modern plants, was built in Monroe County in the 1960s, but the plant later endured an accident in October 1966 that inspired a book and a song titled, “We Almost Lost Detroit.” In the accident, a zirconium plate in the reactor vessel became loose and blocked the sodium coolant, causing a small amount of fuel to melt. Temperatures began rising and radiation monitors alarmed, but no radiation leaked from the containment building into the environment. Over three years later, Fermi 1 was cleaned up and restarted, but the

plant was later decommissioned in November 1972.

Michigan currently has three nuclear power plants:

The Donald C. Cook power plant, or Cook nuclear plant, on Lake Michigan in Lake Charter Township, has been operational since 1975. The Cook plant’s two reactor units at full power can produce 2360 megawatts − enough to power approximately 1.5 million homes or a city as big as Detroit.

The Fermi 2 power plant on Lake Erie in Newport, has produced more than 200 billion kilowatt hours of energy for DTE Energy customers since it opened in 1988.

The Palisades power plant on Lake Michigan in Covert Township, south of South Haven, operated for over 50 years before permanently closing on May 20, 2022. But now, the Palisades plant may be on track to become the country’s first nuclear facility to reopen.

Safety measures

The state of Michigan assures that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission closely monitors all nuclear plants to ensure safety, although the state recommends developing an emergency plan if you live within 10 miles of a nuclear facility in case of an accident.

Be familiar with the terms used in case of accidents:

Unusual event: A small mishap has occurred, but no radiation leak is expected.

Alert: A small problem has occurred, and while small amounts of radiation may leak out inside the plant, you will not be affected and don’t need to take action.

Site area emergency: Low-level radiation may leak from the plant may leak out of the plant due to an actual or likely failure of plant function or malicious act. Area sirens may be sounded but listen to your local radio or television for exact safety instructions.

General emergency: Large amounts of radiation could leak out of the plant or unauthorized individuals have compromised the security of the plant. Area sirens will sound. Listen to the local radio or television for safety information and be prepared to follow instructions, including evacuation.

It is recommended to keep a bag on hand packed with necessities and to develop a plan of where to go outside the 10mile radius in case of evacuation.

Additionally, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives Michigan free potassium iodide “KI” pills for people who live or work within 10 miles of a nuclear power plant. In the case of radiation leakage, radioactive iodine is one of the materials that may be released into the environment and can be absorbed and stored in the thyroid, which relies on iodine for hormone synthesis. Taking KI pills fills your thyroid with a safe form of iodine so that the thyroid can’t absorb radioactive iodine, which can cause thyroid cancer and disease later on.

To get free KI pills, people living or working near the plants can download a voucher and take it to a participating pharmacy near one of Michigan’s three nuclear plants. KI pills are only taken once a day when a “General Emergency” has been declared. More information on KI pills can be found here.