Three US nuclear reactor restarts are underway, none completed yet

In short: The US is trying to restart three nuclear reactors that were shut down, but none has successfully reopened so far.

What's going on

For decades, a permanently closed nuclear power reactor in the United States has stayed closed. As of mid-2026, government researchers said none had ever been restarted.

Now there are three active efforts to change that. Think of it like trying to put a retired power plant back on the grid after it has been mothballed, not just turning a switch back on.

The most advanced project is the Palisades plant in Michigan. Holtec has a $1.52 billion loan commitment from the US Department of Energy, which is a promise of financing if requirements are met. Reuters has reported the administration expected the work to take about two years.

In Pennsylvania, Constellation is working to restart Three Mile Island Unit 1, now referred to as the Crane Clean Energy Center. The company announced plans in 2024 and later linked the project to a large power deal with Microsoft. Reuters reported Constellation said it would commit about $1.6 billion.

In Iowa, NextEra has said it is considering restarting the Duane Arnold plant. The company has been talking with grid operators and federal officials, but this effort appears less developed than the other two.

What to watch

A key detail is timing and proof. These projects are notable because the US has not completed a restart of a reactor that was closed for good, even though people are now trying in multiple states at once. The next big milestone will be whether any of the plants gets all approvals, finishes repairs, and actually produces electricity again.

Source: NYTimes