MARSEILLES, Ill. (AP) — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says a
lightning strike knocked out power to a northern Illinois nuclear plant
for several hours Wednesday night, but emergency generators kicked in to
keep the site running.
Exelon Generation says it believes lightning hit a substation that carries
electricity to and from its LaSalle Generating Station. Both reactors shut
down as a safety precaution, and diesel generators continued to power
plant equipment.
Spokeswoman Krista Lopykinski (lah-pih-KIHN'-skee) says off-site power was
restored late Wednesday night, and the plant officially exited the
so-called "unusual event" on Thursday morning. An unusual event is the
lowest of the four emergency classifications.
Exelon says reactors will remain offline until appropriate safety checks
and procedures are completed.
The plant is in rural LaSalle County, about 75 miles southwest of Chicago.