Washington Reporter: Rep. Tim Walberg and Heather Reams: Michigan is leading the nuclear resurgence

Washington can learn a few things from the Great Lakes State when it comes to accelerating energy deployments. With the U.S. expanding domestic manufacturing and competing in the global AI race, our nation needs more energy.

As two leaders in federal energy policy, we appreciate Michigan working to meet this moment through an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy, so that families, communities, and businesses can enjoy affordable, reliable, and resilient power.

In fact, Michigan’s Covert Township is on the verge of making history by being home to our nation’s first nuclear restart at Palisades. The nuclear power plant ceased operations in May 2022, and a recent study from the University of Michigan found that its premature closure resulted in an adverse economic impact on the region of more than $250 million annually. In Michigan, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders came together to request the funding necessary to reopen the plant, and the Trump administration continued to pave the way for the plant’s awaited restart.

Reopening this plant will bring back over 800 megawatts of clean and secure energy to the state, enough to power over 800,000 households. Furthermore, the plant will support more than 600 permanent high-quality jobs in Michigan in addition to more than 1,000 specialty contractor roles that are necessary for ongoing restart activities and for future refueling. To put it simply, the restart of Palisades sends a clear signal that the U.S. is reclaiming its leadership role in nuclear innovation and reinvestment at a critical time.

Palisades is also well-positioned to be home to two of America’s first small modular reactors (SMRs), with each reactor producing more than 300 megawatts of carbon-free energy. Co-locating at the Palisades site will benefit the surrounding communities as it offers hundreds of additional high-paying jobs and consistent tax revenue, while attracting energy-hungry industries, such as data centers and advanced manufacturing.

Taken together, the historic Palisades restart and the addition of two SMRs will make Southwest Michigan a hub for America’s nuclear renaissance, and the timing could not be better.

With rapid manufacturing, data center, and artificial intelligence expansion, our country needs a lot more electricity to meet the demand — and the need is urgent. Nationally, in less than five years, data centers are anticipated to use over 117 gigawatts of power, up from 47 gigawatts in 2024. Additionally, new manufacturing facilities could require up to 20 gigawatts simultaneously. Combined, that is roughly the amount of electricity required to power more than 102 million new homes. Nuclear power plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge, providing reliable, clean, and on-demand electricity. It enhances grid stability and currently supports nearly half a million high-paying jobs nationwide.

In the coming years, jobs and economic growth will follow the regions where affordable and reliable energy is available. If the U.S. follows Michigan’s lead, reinvests in nuclear power, and prioritizes energy innovation, our domestic economy will benefit from better-paying jobs and increased global competitiveness, all while achieving energy security.

As we continue our work in Washington, we remain laser-focused on strengthening the energy capacity of Michigan and the nation. An all-of-the-above energy grid is the solution, and the states investing in that vision today will strengthen America tomorrow.

Rep. Tim Walberg represents Michigan’s 5th District and Heather Reams is the president and CEO of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES).

This op-ed was published in the Washington Reporter: https://washingtonreporter.news/p/op-ed-rep-tim-walberg-and-heather.