Consumers Power Company Heliport

The heliport was closed due to the permanent decommissioning of the primary facility it served. As a private heliport, its sole purpose was to support the operations of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. With the plant's shutdown, the heliport's function became obsolete.

The physical helipad likely remains intact on the grounds of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. However, it is no longer a registered or operational aviation facility. The entire site, including the former heliport area, is part of an active industrial complex undergoing decommissioning. The plant was sold to Holtec International for the purpose of dismantlement.

The Consumers Power Company Heliport was a private-use facility critically important to the safety, security, and logistical operations of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. Its primary functions included:
- **Emergency Response:** Providing a staging point for rapid deployment of personnel and equipment in the event of a plant emergency.
- **Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC):** Allowing for swift air transport in case of industrial accidents or medical emergencies at the remote plant site.
- **Security Operations:** Facilitating aerial surveillance of the plant's perimeter and secure zone, and enabling rapid response by security teams.
- **Personnel Transport:** Used to fly in company executives, specialized technicians, and officials from regulatory bodies like the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The heliport was an integral part of the plant's infrastructure, ensuring it met stringent federal safety and security protocols for nuclear facilities.

There is a significant and unique prospect for reopening. In a reversal of the decommissioning plan, Holtec International is actively pursuing a historic effort to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant, backed by a conditional loan from the U.S. Department of Energy and support from the state of Michigan. If this plan to repower the plant is successful, the heliport would almost certainly be reactivated and recertified by the FAA to restore its vital functions for plant safety, security, and emergency response. The heliport's future is directly tied to the success of the plant's potential reopening.