With Fort Calhoun Offline, OPPD Looks For More Power
Nuclear Plant Shut Down Until Flooding Subsides
UPDATED: 6:06 pm CDT June 28, 2011
FORT CALHOUN, Neb. -- Omaha Public Power District said it´s looking for more power before
forecasted 90 degree temperatures arrive this week.
With water surrounding Fort Calhoun´s nuclear plant, officials expect it to remain closed through
August. Gary Gates, CEO for OPPD, said to ensure customers have the power they need, the
company will look at buying power from other utilities.
The Fort Calhoun facility has been closed since April for refueling, but water creeping toward the
buildings forced the closure to be extended until the flooding subsides.
"The Omaha Public Power District built a dirt berm around the majority of the switchyard to protect
those electrical sources," plant manager Tim Nellenbach said.
Protecting the plant is a top priority for officials there. They said they´re ready in case anything should
go wrong.
"We have done those types of simulations where we lose all station power. The operators are trained
for station blackout conditions and also emergency procedures, such that they can keep the core
cool," Nellenbach said.
Nellenbach said because of their extensive training, the risk of a nuclear event is very low.
While water has forced essential personnel to use catwalks to move between buildings, Nellenbach
said the plant remains safe.
"All of our safety related areas -- there's nothing challenged currently by the floodwaters," Nellenbach
said.
What officials don´t want is more water. But extra pumps and diesel generators work day and night to
keep critical areas as dry as possible.
OPPD said even with Fort Calhoun offline, their other nuclear plant near Brownville, along with coal
plants and wind energy, will help to buffer the amount of energy output needed for all customers.