Automatic shutdown of Prairie Island investigated
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Prairie Island operators are trying to figure out what tripped a turbine at the nuclear power plant, automatically shutting down one of its two units Tuesday.
The plant's owner, Xcel Energy, says there were no injuries, no release of radiation and no threat to the public.
The reactor was being returned to full power Monday after it was shut down for refueling and maintenance April 17. Operators say it was about 32 percent of power capacity when the turbine tripped about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The plant's other reactor was not affected and continues to operate at 100 percent power.
Xcel Energy says each unit generates about 550 megawatts of power, together enough to power nearly 1 million homes.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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