Nuclear Plant Near Wisconsin Border Has Another Reactor Shutdown

A nuclear power plant bordering Wisconsin along the Mississippi River has shut down one of its reactors for maintenance. It’s the second malfunction at the plant within a month.

Engineers at the Prairie Island nuclear power plant near Red Wing, Minnesota shut down its Unit 2 reactor this morning when a valve failed in its feed-water system.

Xcel Energy spokesman Tom Hoen said the feed water system supplies hot water and steam to the generators, which produce the electricity at the plant, and said no one at the plant or nearby communities was in danger.

Hoen said, last month, a steam leak set off a fire alarm causing another shutdown of Unit 2.

“Unfortunately we’ve had a couple of equipment issues over the last couple of months that have forced us to take the unit offline to make repairs,” he said.

Hoen said the valve is already being replaced and he expects Unit 2 to be at full power within a couple days.

The reactor was built in 1973.