The loan from the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO) is likely to be announced in late February, the person said, declining to be identified as the information was not yet public.
The energy technology firm said it was "optimistic" about the federal loan process, which would help the company re-open a closed U.S. nuclear power plant for the first time in history.
"We hope for a timely approval to bring the plant back to full power operation toward the end of 2025," said Holtec spokesperson Nick Culp, declining to comment on the size or timing of the loan.
Florida-based Holtec bought Palisades in 2022 from Entergy (ETR.N), opens new tab to decommission the plant after it struggled to compete with natural gas-fired plants and renewable energy.
After interest rose from the administration of President Joe Biden in low-carbon power from nuclear energy, Holtec filed in October with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reopen the 800-megawatt plant, while also applying for an LPO loan.
The Biden administration believes nuclear power is essential in the fight against climate change and for its goals to decarbonize the grid by 2035 and the economy by 2050. Nuclear plants are also a source of some of the highest-paying union jobs in the energy industry.
The LPO said it could not confirm or deny the existence of an applicant as the information is business confidential.
Bloomberg first, opens new tab reported that the administration was poised to loan the company $1.5 billion as soon as next month, citing sources.
Holtec in September signed an agreement with Wolverine Power Cooperative, a not-for-profit energy provider, for the purchase up to two-thirds of the power generated by Palisades.
The Biden administration earlier this month finalized $1.1 billion in credits to keep PG&E Corp's (PCG.N), opens new tab Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in operation in California.
