DTE Energy studying uprate at Fermi-2, considers Fermi-3’s prospects
DTE Energy, the owner of Fermi nuclear power plant in Michigan, is considering an extended uprate for Unit 2 that would increase its 1,100-MW generation capacity by 150 MW.
Stephen Tait, DTE’s communications manager at Fermi, confirmed the news with the American Nuclear Society last week. Tait said the uprate consideration is in “the feasibility stage” and no decision has been made to file with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for approval.

Fermi-2 nuclear power plant near Monroe, Mich. (Photo: NRC)
If DTE decides to pursue the roughly 15 percent uprate—the company’s first—the process would take seven or eight years to complete, he added.
During March 4 testimony in front of the Michigan House of Representatives’ energy committee, DTE chief nuclear officer Peter Dietrich said 2032 would be the soonest the full uprate could be completed.
Fermi-3? At the hearing, energy committee chair Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R., 39th Dist.) quipped, “What’s it going to take the legislature to do to get Fermi-3 up and running?”
The NRC approved a combined operating license for DTE in 2015, which enables them to build another large plant (dubbed “Fermi-3”) at the Michigan site, but the company has taken no action in the past decade.
Dietrich responded to Wendzel that DTE would welcome “some directed support provided by the legislature for that, [as] has happened in other states.” Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle-3 and -4, for example, received a significant state and federal support during construction. Those units are the newest additions to the domestic nuclear fleet and the first new reactors to be built in the U.S. in 30 years.
The additional operating license is very valuable, Dietrich told the committee, adding that DTE is “actively studying the development.”
What’s next: The proposed uprate at Fermi-2 and potential movement on Fermi-3 are not included in DTE’s most recent integrate resource plan, a long-term outlook at energy plans that is required by the Michigan Public Service Commission. The most recent IRP was accepted by the commission in July 2023.
Tait said the company’s next updated plan must be completed by the end of 2026.
“We are continuing to evaluate future sources of clean generation in that plan, which includes nuclear, renewables, and storage,” Tait said. “The process ensures we build the right mix of generation to provide clean, reliable, and affordable for our customers in the decades to come.”
Elsewhere in Michigan: The U.S. Department of Energy announced April 22 its third disbursement to Palisades in support of the nuclear plants planned restart later this year. The release of the $46.7 million is part of the DOE Laon Program Office’s $1.52 billion loan guarantee to plant owner Holtec.
Palisades is hoping to be the first U.S. plant to restart after being shut down in 2022; however, it still needs approval from the NRC.
“With projects like the Palisades nuclear plant, the Energy Department is working to ensure America’s nuclear renaissance is just around the corner,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said.