WASHINGTON – Before the day is over, the North Anna nuclear power plant in Louisa County could be feeding electricity into the power grid again, and that move has increased the controversy over the plant.
It has been 11 weeks since two reactors at the plant shut down during a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. It was the first time a nuclear plant shut down was triggered that way.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a restart of both reactors after a series of inspections showed no functional damage from the quake.
But Paul Gunter, director of the the Reactor Oversight Project for the nuclear industry watchdog Beyond Nuclear, says only one of the two units has been properly inspected.
“The NRC basically has allowed the two units to to restart based on the inspection of one,” Gunter says.
The NRC says it is satisfied with the inspections that showed no functional damage to the plant.
The two reactors will be restarted in phases over 10 days, with tests on all safety equipment along the way. Extra staff also will be in on hand.
The first reactor is expected to reach full power by midweek. The second is expected to start next week and be up to full power by Nov. 20.
Dominion Virginia Power says safety will be its first priority.
“It’s basically an experiment because they’ve never really had an earthquake shut down a nuclear power pant before in the United States,” Gunter says.
The NRC is now reviewing potential upgrades to 27 plants across the country, including North Anna, to see whether they may need retrofitting to withstand stronger earthquakes.
WTOP’s Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow Hank and WTOP on Twitter.
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