In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with Zach Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of Wolverine Power Cooperative, to discuss one of the most significant achievements in cooperative energy history: the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station.

When Palisades entered decommissioning status, it seemed like a closed chapter. But Wolverine Power Cooperative and their partner Hoosier Energy saw something different: an unprecedented opportunity to secure carbon-free baseload power that could serve their members for decades.

What followed was a bold move that had never been successfully executed in the United States: bringing a nuclear plant that was going to be decommissioned back online.

The cooperative difference shines through this story. Unlike investor-owned utilities that must seek board approval and navigate complex profit motives, Wolverine's member-owned structure allowed leadership to move quickly and decisively. When Holtec, the plant's owner, needed three things: NRC approval, DOE loan support, and a committed power partner, Wolverine stepped up. That partnership became the catalyst for the entire project, ultimately securing long-term contracts for 100% of Palisades' output.

Featured topics:

• The history of G&T cooperatives and their role in providing reliable power supply
• How cooperatives can move faster and more decisively than traditional utilities
• The unprecedented challenge of restarting a decommissioned nuclear plant
• Creating a balanced energy portfolio: wind, solar, natural gas peakers, and baseload nuclear
• Local economic impact: $10 million annually in tax revenue and 600 six-figure jobs
• Rate stability and price competitiveness for member cooperatives
• How decarbonization and reliability work together as partners, not competitors
• State-level support behind the Palisades restart

Zach shares how Wolverine's decision to secure this abundant, carbon-free power source leaves the cooperative in its strongest position in nearly 80 years. The impact cascades through the entire cooperative network: members get price stability, clean energy, and reliability, while the state gains crucial decarbonization leadership. This is cooperation in action, where bold decisions by one G&T benefit the distribution co-ops and consumers it serves.