ST. JOSEPH, Mich.--- The nation is in the middle of what some call the AI revolution, but artificial intelligence demands infrastructure, largely data centers, that demand a lot of power. The country will need more reliable, baseload energy than ever. That means plans to expand nuclear power in Michiana and beyond.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held an open house in St. Joseph Thursday to discuss the reportedly positive 2024 safety performance of the Cook Nuclear Power Plant in Bridgman. It was a chance for the public to speak directly with nuclear inspectors and experts.
"We're happy to answer questions and show people how the plants are operating safely and what makes them safe," said Prema Chandrathil, public affairs officer for region three of the NRS, which covers the Midwest.
There are already plans in place to expand nuclear in the region. The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert, Michigan, is set to be the country's first decommissioned power plant to be restarted. After it's restarted, owner Holtec announced plans to then build two small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2030, again trying to be the first in the country to do so.
More sites for SMRs are likely to be announced, like Indiana Michigan Power's plans to shut down its Rockport Coal Plant in Spencer County, and build SMRs there instead.
In fact, Indiana Governor Mike Braun is embracing* the buildout of nuclear in the Hoosier State, signing several laws this week. One establishes energy production zones to speed up new generation sites. Another protects ratepayers from the cost of new infrastructure to support data centers and other large-load customers.
And in Michigan, a bipartisan group of state representatives is working to pass legislation to help educate the next generation of energy workers and to implement tax credits for SMRs.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office. He also signed multiple executive orders in May, speeding up the licensing process for future nuclear designs and essentially reshaping the NRC.
NRC staff told ABC57 the impacts of those changes are yet to be seen as the orders are implemented.
"Those types of issues are being actually reviewed by our headquarters, where there is a policy focus. Here, in our region, our focus continues to go ahead and make sure plants in and around the area continue to meet our existing rules and regulations," Chandrathil said.
While many are excited about this carbon-free source of energy, many worry about cutting corners to get plants up and running safely. One of those skeptics is Kevin Kamps from the group "Beyond Nuclear."
"How do I feel about this free fall on nuclear safety that's going on right now? Compliments of the trump administration, and Congress, and the NRC, and the industry itself, which has lobbied for these changes that they prefer to have in place, no safety regulations if they can get away with it, I feel they are flirting with catastrophe," Kamps said. "I call it radioactive Russian Roulette on the Lake Michigan shoreline. And yes, Chernobyl, Fukushima, Three Mile Island, can happen here."