Nuclear plant is back online

Wed., Sept. 2, 2009

Associated Press

RICHLAND – The only nuclear power plant in the Northwest is operating again, several weeks after an electrical fault started a fire and forced the plant to shut down.

Columbia Generating Station began a return to service Monday morning.

The plant was automatically shut down Aug. 5 after the fire started in an area separate from the reactor.

The 25-year-old Columbia Generating Station produces enough electricity for 1 million homes. The plant is taken offline every two years to replace fuel in the reactor. The next scheduled shutdown is spring 2011.

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