
This role is a great entry level introduction to the nuclear world. They also present a tempting target for a number of groups intent on. Nuclear Plant Helpers assist in maintaining our plants, power equipment repair and operation, vehicle repair, deliveries, and decontaminating plant structures and equipment. In this case, there was no such threat.” The company said it focused on investigating the situation, containing the affected water and figuring out next steps. Nuclear power plants generate a significant percentage of the nations energy. The leak of contaminated water from Xcel Energy’s nuclear power plant in Monticello hasn’t exactly changed a lot of minds as the Minnesota Legislature debates the future of nuclear’s role in. When asked why Xcel Energy didn’t notify the public earlier, the company said: “We understand the importance of quickly informing the communities we serve if a situation poses an immediate threat to health and safety. “Ongoing monitoring from over two dozen on-site monitoring wells confirms that the leaked water is fully contained on-site and has not been detected beyond the facility or in any local drinking water,” the Xcel Energy statement said. Xcel Energy in late November told Minnesota and federal officials about a leak of 400,000 gallons of water contaminated with radioactive tritium at its Monticello nuclear power plant, but it wasnt until Thursday that the incident and ongoing cleanup effort were made public. Bloom Energy and Xcel Energy are working on a first-of-a-kind project to demonstrate high-temperature electrolysis at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Red Wing, Minn.

Xcel aims for 100 carbon-free power by 2050 and an 80 carbon-emission cut by 2030 from 2005 levels. Since then, it has been pumping groundwater, storing and processing the contaminated water, which contains tritium levels below federal thresholds. The company also is keeping a close eye on a new breed of smaller, advanced nuclear reactors. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) relicensed the facilities. We own and operate two nuclear power plants: Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant near Monticello, MN and Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant near Red Wing, MN. nuclear power plant / electricity distribution systems, as well as to understand its operation in. Xcel has spent 2 billion maintaining the Monticello and Prairie Island plants since the early 2000s, the last time U.S. 22, the day after it confirmed the leak, which came from a pipe between two buildings. Collaborators: Xcel Energy - Molly Strasser, Patrick. The company said it notified the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the state on Nov.

The issue of nuclear power is an example of the conflict between meeting the energy needs of the ever growing Twin Cities and protecting the environment for future generations.“Now that we have all the information about where the leak occurred, how much was released into groundwater, and that contaminated groundwater had moved beyond the original location, we are sharing this information,” he said, adding the water remains contained on Xcel’s property and poses no immediate public health risk. In 1994 the Minnesota Legislature enacted a moratorium on new power plants. Many activists fought against the additional storage stating that it would damage the environment and ecosystem of the Mississippi River. Xcel Energys nuclear power plants help us. The issue was brought to the public's attention again in 1991 when NSP applied to increase the amount of spent fuel storage space at the Prairie Island site. Nuclear energy produces no greenhouse gases and is Americas leading source of clean, carbon-free electricity. Xcel Energy cleaning up radioactive leak at Monticello nuclear generating plant By WCCO Staff, Allen Henry Updated on: Ma/ 10:09 PM / CBS Minnesota MONTICELLO, Minn. While energy industry representatives say that nuclear power is a safe and economical alternative to coal, environmental activists counter that nuclear plants are prone to technological failures, that they are disproportionately located on Indian reservations or in minority communities, and that long-term storage of nuclear waste affects nearby communities in the form of higher cancer rates. Power Generation We produce the power that keeps your lights on. Since the early 1970s, activists in Minnesota have been protesting against the nuclear reactors operated by NSP (now Xcel Energy). Nuclear Power has been a controversial issue in Minnesota since the 1960s when building began on the Northern States Power (NSP) Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear power plants.
