Nuclear Plant Shutsdown

It’s not routine maintenance that’s led to shutdowns at the Xcel energy nuclear power plant at Prairie Island in Red Wing.  The company announces another shut down today.  This time it’s a faulty feedwater system that’s forcing one of the two generating units offline.  The feedwater system supplies water to the steam generator.  Just last month, it was a fire alarm.  In December it was a problematic pump.  Last May, there was a drain problem.  Each time, the units have been shutdown safely and then brought back online shortly after.  Xcel says this shutdown poses no risk to the public.