Is this True???greenspun.com : LUSENET : Electric Utilities and Y2K : One Thread |
While visiting the Chicago area this week, I was informed by a utility union workers that the Con Ed nuclear power plants that supply power to Chicago run at 40% capacity because the steel used in the construction has hairline fractures in it. The government allows them to operate the plant but only at 40%. Can anyone confirm that this is actually true?
-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999
No.
Lisa_in_cedar, since rumors generally have some basis from which they grow, this one may have somehow been extrapolated from the NRC Information Notice of April 13 of this year. IN 99-10, "Degradation of Prestressing Tendon Systems in Prestressed Concrete Containments" is at:http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/GENACT/GC/IN/1999/in99010.txt
You can also check out what nuclear plants are operating, and at what power levels, through the Plant Status Report provided daily at:
http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/DAILY/psr.htm
None of the plants in the country are running at 40%, and now you can verify it for yourself anytime.
-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999