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Palisades Shutdown Looms, Economic Planners Consider How to Cope

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A coalition of local, state and federal agencies and levels of government are rolling up their sleeves to figure out how to soften the economic blow when the Palisades Nuclear Plant ceases operation later this year.

There’ll still be economic activity in the plant’s post-0peration phase, but it will be far less than it has been.  So what will take its place?  That’s one of the questions that’ll be front and center for the group taking on the challenge of Van Buren County’s economic future, led by the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and Market Van Buren, the county’s economic development agency.

The groups released a statement, detailing how their efforts are being structured and spot-lighting some welcome funding for the planning project of over a million dollars.

Federal, state, and local officials along with the private sector are joining to build a comprehensive economic recovery strategy to assist Van Buren County and the region in preparation for the June 2022 closure of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant.  Since going on line in 1967, the plant has served as a major economic driver in the region, providing high-paying jobs, tax base, and support for local communities.  Though the closure will happen in June, safely storing the spent fuel and mitigating any risk that remains on site, a process called “decommissioning,” is projected to take up to 19 years to complete.

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The Palisades Economic Recovery Initiative is a $1.2 million dollar project.  It is made possible through a funding stack of grants that includes $969,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration; $140,000 from the Consumers Energy Foundation; $53,000 from the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Energy Transition Impact Project; and $50,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

“The Economic Recovery Initiative began in the fall of 2021 and will continue through 2023,” explained Southwest Michigan Planning Commission Executive Director John Egelhaaf.  “The first half will be spent gathering data and developing a strategy and action plan, the second half will be implementing the specified actions.  We want to make absolutely sure that the actions taken in the future are as fruitful and intentional as possible,” he added.

“The action plan we develop will allow partners to assess the systems, sectors, and community assets that are available, but even more importantly we will be make sure things are aligned and we are creating great opportunities for Van Buren County and our regional economy, “ stated Zach Morris, Executive Director of Market Van Buren, the county’s lead economic development group.

The partnership driving the Initiative includes the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, Market Van Buren, Kinexus Group, Van Buren County Government, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, The University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute, the Michigan Department of Treasury and the Michigan Public Service Commission.  At each step of the process, the partners will produce components of the Recovery Strategy.  The partnership will collaborate with a diverse group of community members and leaders that has been established as the Palisades Community Advisory Panel (PCAP).  The PCAP will be an important intersection for all information regarding the Palisades closure and decommissioning. The group producing the Recovery Strategy will regularly reach out to the PCAP to invite critique of the Strategy as it is being developed.

The effort to engage the public in the development of the Strategy extends beyond the PCAP to the general public.  While the public is invited to participate in PCAP meetings, several additional options exist for the public and other community groups to participate in the process. Meeting information can be found on the Van Buren County website at https://www.vanburencountymi.gov/737/Palisades-Community-Advisory-Panel.  The public can also follow and provide input by visiting www.vanburencoutymi.gov/725/Palisades-Economic-Recovery-Initative.  Surveys and other instruments will also be posted on the two Van Buren County sites.  Another option to connect is through the Initiative’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Palisades.Economic.Recovery.Initiative.