UPDATE: Cuomo Angry at Latest Indian Point 2 Shutdown

Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts

BUCHANAN, NY – Control room operators at Entergy’s Indian Point Unit 2 nuclear power plant temporarily removed the plant from service Friday morning to complete weld repairs to a pipe that had been leaking a small amount of Hudson River water, and to enable workers from Con Edison to test a breaker in a switchyard located near Indian Point in Buchanan, company officials announced.

Unit 2 only just went back online -- June 16 -- after having been shut down for refueling and a 10-year inspection under its Aging Management Program that found degraded bolts inside the reactor.

LEARN MORE:

• NRC: Indian Point 2 Safe to Restart
• Petition Filed to Keep Indian Point from Restarting

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is fighting to have the nuclear plant shut down for good, issued an angry statement after learning about today's shutdown.

"The unexpected shutdown of the reactor at Indian Point 2 because of a weld leak is just the latest example of the repeated and continuing problems at the plant. In the last year alone, there has been unprecedented degradation of Indian Point Unit 2 baffle-former bolts, groundwater contamination, and increased NRC oversight at Unit 3 due to numerous unplanned shutdowns. This is yet another sign that the aging and wearing away of important components at the facility are having a direct and unacceptable impact on safety, and is further proof that the plant is not a reliable generation resource."

The breaker can be tested only while electricity from Unit 2 is not being sent to the Con Edison-owned switchyard, Entergy officials said.

Engineers at the plant previously identified a small leak of Hudson River water from a pipe in a non-radioactive system, leaking at about one drop every five seconds. There is no ongoing leak and there was no challenge to safety, however the plant needs to be shut down for weld repairs to be completed, in accordance with NRC regulations, company officials said.

The work by Con Edison to test a breaker in their Buchanan Switchyard is also planned while the plant is offline.

“By coordinating with Entergy, Con Edison workers can safely test this breaker while Indian Point 2 is shut down, thus improving electrical reliability for the area,” said Brian Horton, vice president of System Operation for Con Edison, in the announcement.

Indian Point Unit 2 generates about 1,000 megawatts – enough electricity for about 1 million homes in this area, Entergy officials said.

Indian Point Unit 3 is operating at full power and has been online continuously for 191 days.

Top stories:
Fatal Crash/ Using Drones for Investigations/ Threat Against Mayor's Family
Hudson Valley 2016 Complete Fireworks, Celebrations