Palisades Nuclear Restart: What Union Workers Need to Know

Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert, Michigan is the first nuclear power plant in American history to be restarted after permanent closure. It shut down in 2022 when Entergy sold it. Holtec International bought it, secured $1.5 billion in Department of Energy loan support, and is actively working toward restart. The work and the workforce needs are real. Boilermakers Local 169 has the primary agreement for the heavy construction and maintenance work at Palisades. Per diem has been running at $170/day and has been consistent according to member reports. The job is classified as Permanent — this is not a one-and-done project. A restarted nuclear plant is a decades-long work commitment with stable, steady employment for the crafts involved. The Covert location is what it is. There is not a lot in the immediate area. South Haven is the nearest town with meaningful lodging options — about 15 miles out. Kalamazoo is the nearest real city at about 35 miles. Book lodging before you mobilize. The site draws workers from a wide geographic area and the limited inventory of quality lodging near the plant gets claimed fast when a new crew call goes out. Nuclear work carries its own set of requirements beyond the standard construction environment. Background checks are thorough and take time — plan for two to three weeks before you are badged and working. The safety culture is serious and enforced. If you have experience in nuclear construction, that background is valuable and worth noting when you register with Local 169. If this is your first nuclear job, come prepared for a more structured environment than standard industrial construction. The work is worth it — steady, permanent, good pay, and a project that matters.