Loud noise startles Braidwood neighbors as unit loses power

Comment: This is scary but the NRC will tell you everything is okay! Right!

August 1, 4:51 PM · Robyn Monaghan - Chicago Page One Examiner

Neighbors of Exelon's nuclear power plant near Braidwood were startled Thursday night by a loud pop and hiss as one of its two generating units lost power.

The noise was from steam gushing out of the plant when the off-site power from two diesel generators was disrupted, apparently from a problem with an onsite transformer.

" I am grateful that their back-up diesel generators worked and that they had adequate fuel supplies,' said David Kraft, with the Nuclear Energy Information Services in Chicago.

"Historically this has not always been the case at U.S .reactors, with many being criticized or fined by NRC for failed back-up power and inadequate fuel supply."

The reactor automatically shut down at 8:59 p.m. The plant responded safely and without incident, officials said in a press release issued Friday.

There was no health or safety impact to workers or to the public from the release, Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station officials said, but the sound could be startling to people close by. Plant personnel notified local authorities and plant neighbors of the release Thursday evening.

Braidwood’s Unit 1 reactor continued to operate at full power. The station is working to determine the cause of the power interruption. Exelon Nuclear personnel notified all appropriate federal, state and local government officials of the unusual event, the lowest of four emergency classifications as defined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the company said.

Braidwood Generating Station is about 60 miles southwest of Chicago.

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