During its recent refueling outage, USA fleet member Xcel Energy’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant completed the final projects required in EA-12-049 Mitigation Strategies for Beyond Design Basis External Events (FLEX) and EA-12-051 Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (SFPI). The station implemented the NRC’s Orders May 19. The most significant outcome of all the improvements is that...

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Talen Energy Corporation was established as June 1, as one of the largest independent power producers in the United States with a diverse portfolio of generating assets located primarily in the country's two largest competitive electricity markets. Talen Energy was formed when the competitive power generation business of PPL Corporation was spun off and immediately...

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Once again, USA fleet member Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant employees took possession of the first place trophy in this year’s Red Wing YMCA Challenge Games. It is the fourth year in a row the Prairie Island team demonstrated that energy is not just a day job for them; it’s a way of life. On...

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USA fleet members Prairie Island and Monticello hosted the New Mexico Amigos, the official goodwill ambassadors of New Mexico, including Gov. Susana Martinez and civic and business leaders from the state recently. New Mexico is experiencing significant economic and industrial growth, especially in its southeast, and offers Xcel Energy the opportunity to meet the state's...

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USA fleet member Columbia Generating Station set a new record for its longest continuous operational run – 683 days – when operators shut down the reactor for start of the station’s biennial refueling and maintenance outage Saturday, May 9. Columbia achieved what’s known as a “breaker to breaker” run for the first time in its...

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In early May, the FLEX Electrical Deployment Validation - part of the process to prove USA fleet member PPL Susquehanna could respond to an unimaginable disaster the size and scope of Fukushima - and all the work that has been done by a dedicated group of nuclear professionals in the past three years - became...

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USA fleet member Cook Nuclear Plant has again launched its high-tech weather buoy in Lake Michigan. This year, in addition to making the extensive weather and water data available to the public online, there is also a camera providing still and video clips. The buoy is equipped with a range of high-tech instruments that can...

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