Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Cuts Power After Leak

VERNON, Vt. — Vermont's lone nuclear power plant is cutting the amount of power it generates by 60 percent after finding a leak of mildly radioactive water.

A spokesman for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant says the system that supplies water for steam generation in the reactor was found Thursday to be leaking 60 drops per minute.

Plant operators began reducing power about 12:10 p.m., and they plan to isolate the 24-inch pipe in order to begin repairing it.

Spokesman Rob Williams says the leak is unrelated to one in a valve gasket that was reported Wednesday.

Comments

[Joffan]

A pipe inside Yermont Yankee drips water onto the floor inside Yermont Yankee... big whoop.

The usual headlining of a non-incident where nuclear power is concerned.

At least it doesn't produce total hysteria in the comments at present.

[andresfusion]

ohhhh "a leak of mildly radioactive water" insert fear mongering comments and misinformation here and it passes as a good argument. Please this wont affect anyone. Why do americans treat radioactivity like it is witchcraft? Many dont know that a pilot receives more radiation than a nuclear worker for instance. And many believe that an insignificant dose of radioactivity will kill you.

Our education its truly lacking......

[TJCole]

But nuclear power is so safe...!

Coal and Nuclear power, that's the Republican solution to over population..!

[Organic-Guy]

That power plant needs to be shut down. they keep extending it's operating license but it's one of the oldest plants in the world and they need to get started on decommissioning it before there's a serious accident.

[squat6971]

Great! Two (independent?) leaks in one week! More nuke plants, anyone?