Nuclear plant back up to full power
Published 9:33 am Wednesday, August 22, 2012
MONTICELLO (AP) — Seven days after two of Minnesota’s three nuclear reactors were shut down, Xcel Energy’s nuclear power plant at Monticello is operating at full power — but Unit 1 of the twin-reactor at Prairie Island’s plant is still ramping up.
Both shutdowns happened Aug. 14 but were unrelated.
The Monticello plant began operating at full power Monday after workers repaired a leaking gasket on a structure that houses the reactor.
Unit 1 at Prairie Island was shut down after workers found exhaust leaks in the plant’s emergency diesel generators.
The two nuclear power plants supply about 30 percent of electricity in Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest territory.
The company said no radiation was released.