MAY 10, 2015
NEW YORK, NY (CNN)
A transformer failure at the Indian Point nuclear power
plant Unit 3 caused an explosion and fire at the facility Saturday evening,
sending billows of black smoke into the air near Buchanan, New York. The Unit 3 had to be shut down. Unit 2 remained operational.
The fire broke out on the non-nuclear side of the plant,
about 200 yards away from the reactor building, according to Entergy spokesman
Jerry Nappi.
The transformer at Indian Point 3 takes energy created by
the plant and changes the voltage for the grid supplying power to the state.
The blaze, which sent black smoke billowing into the sky Saturday, was
extinguished by a sprinkler system and on-site personnel, Entergy spokesman
Jerry Nappi said. Westchester County
police and fire were on site as a precaution.
It was not immediately clear what caused the failure, or
whether the transformer would be repaired or replaced. Of course the explosion and fire must have
destroyed the transformer and thus must be replaced. Dah!
Nappi said there were no health or safety risks (how cannot
be any safety risks? They had to shut
down part of the reactor – obviously there is some risk). It's unclear how long
the 1,000-megawatt reactor will be down. Entergy is investigating the failure.
"The fire is out and the plant is safe and
stable," Nappi said. Federal officials said one reactor unit automatically
shut down.
No one was injured in the blaze.
There was "no threat to public safety at any
time," the facility said in a tweet. "All Indian Point emergency
systems worked as designed."
A sprinkler system doused the fire with the help of
personnel on the scene, Nappi said.
Multiple emergency services agencies responded to the
explosion at the plant, located approximately 50 miles north of Manhattan,
including the Westchester County and New York State Police.
"We saw just a huge black ball of smoke right across
the river," witness Gustavus Gricius told CNN. "We could smell the
oily, electric burn smell."
In accordance with federal regulations, the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, state, county and local officials were notified of
the event, considered the lowest of four emergency classifications for U.S.
nuclear plants.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was at the plant and received a briefing
on the accident.
He called the incident "relatively minor" but
added, "these situations we take very seriously. This is a nuclear-powered
plant; it's nothing to be trifled with."
The blast sent the facility into an emergency response
situation classified as an "unusual event," according to Nappi.
The event was declared at 5:50 p.m. and the fire was out by
6:15 p.m.
Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the federal Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, said the agency had three inspectors respond.
"They're cooling down the reactor and we'll have to
investigate the cause of the fire," he said.
The facility houses two nuclear reactor units and produces
approximately 25% of the electricity for New York City and Westchester County,
according to its website. It is a very old plant (built in the 1950s) and has not been updated much. Leaks happen all the time, based on the public announcements over the years.
/////----------------------/////
INDIAN POINT UNIT 3 SAFELY SHUTDOWN FOLLOWING FAILURE OF
TRANSFORMER
MAY 9, 2015
BUCHANAN, N.Y.
Indian Point unit 3 safely and automatically shut down as
designed following a failure of one of two main electrical transformers at the
plant around 6:00p.m. The plant is currently in a safe,stable shutdown
condition.
Following the transformer failure an automatic sprinkler
system, along with trained onsite personnel, extinguished the fire.
There was no release of radioactivity and no threat to the
safety of workers or the public.
The cause of the failure is under investigation. There were
no injuries reported as a result of the transformer failure.
The unaffected unit, Indian Point 2 nuclear power plant,
continues to operate at 100% power.
In accordance with federal regulations and emergency plant
procedures, the NRC, state, county and local officials were notified. A Notice
of Unusual Event is the lowest of four emergency classifications for U. S.
nuclear power plants, as outlined by the NRC.
//----------------////
Indian Point Energy
Center
Entergy is a cornerstone in the state’s
deregulated energy marketplace and represents a large portion of the electricity
provided to the New York Power Authority and Consolidated Edison, which is then
resold to thousands of retail, government, and institutional customers. Entergy
employs approximately 2,000 people in New York state.
Entergy and Indian Point Energy Center have a tradition of
deep and lasting corporate contributions Indian Point generously contributing
to non-profit organizations, schools, and universities in New York. Specific
initiatives include the Food Pantry at Zion Episcopal Church, St. Phillips Church
food program, Community Food Pantry of St. Mary’s, Meals on Wheels of Rockland
County and St. Francis Food Pantries.
In addition, dedicated Indian Point employees contribute
thousands of volunteer hours throughout the communities is the region.
Several long-standing traditions for Indian Point include
the support of the popular Peekskill Celebration culminating with the “Entergy
Fireworks Extravaganza” along with the Indian Point’s longest running tradition
of giving – the employee-led Gifts for Rosary Hill.
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Indian Point Energy Center
Buchanan, N.Y. |
Unit 2
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Unit 3
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Owner:
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Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 2, LLC
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Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3, LLC
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Maximum Dependable Capacity:
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1,028 MW
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1,041 MW
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Reactor Type:
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Pressurized Water Reactor
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Pressurized Water Reactor
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Reactor Manufacturer:
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Westinghouse
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Westinghouse
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Turbine Generator Manufacturer:
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General Electric
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Westinghouse
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Architect/Engineer:
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United Engineers and Constructors
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United Engineers and Constructors
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Commercial Operation Date:
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8/01/1974
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8/30/1976
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License Expiration Date:
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9/28/2013
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12/12/2015
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Cooling Water Source:
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Hudson River
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Number of Employees:
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1,050 (Units 2 and 3)
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Counties included in Emergency Planning Zone:
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Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange
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Environmental Impact
Generating electricity with nuclear energy prevents the
emission of pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with burning fossil
fuels. It does generate, however, spent nuclear fuel that must be deposited in underground depositories forever.
During 2011, environmental emissions avoided due to nuclear
power plant operation in New York State included 25,000 tons of sulfur dioxide,
14,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.*
Emissions of SO2 lead to the formation of acid rain. NOx is
a key precursor of both ground-level ozone and smog. Greenhouse gases like CO2
contribute to global warming.