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Columbia Generating Station nformation
November 9, 2006
News Release 06-16
Brad Peck, Corporate Communications
(509) 377-8247
RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant returned to 100 percent power earlier this morning.
The 1,250-megawatt power plant reconnected and began delivering power to the northwest power grid at approximately 4 a.m. yesterday morning to begin its ascension to full power.
The nuclear station had been off-line since the morning of October 31 when an electronic part in a “digital electro-hydraulic” (DEH) controller system failed, causing a turbine trip. A turbine trip results in an automatic shutdown of the reactor.
Columbia repair teams took advantage of the unplanned outage to make optional repairs to other plant systems, further increasing the plant’s future reliability.
The unanticipated shutdown ended the longest continuous run in the plant’s nearly 21-year operating history, at 486 days of producing power for the region.
The next shutdown of the nuclear station is expected in May 2007 for a scheduled refueling outage. The plant is taken off-line every two years to replace fuel within the reactor.
Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency with 20 public power member utilities throughout Washington. In addition to Columbia, Energy Northwest owns and operates the Nine Canyon Wind Project, Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project, and White Bluffs Solar Station. The joint operating agency also provides operations and maintenance services for other facilities.