Monticello nuclear plant ready to move spent fuel
MINNESOTA - Months of planning at the Monticello nuclear plant will be put into practice soon when spent nuclear fuel is moved to a new storage facility.
Radioactive fuel rods will be moved in a process designed for safety and security from inside the plant to the above-ground storage.
The casks will go into concrete storage modules. The storage area is surrounded by two chain-link fences and monitored by cameras and other security devices.
Moving the spent fuel will free space in the plant's interior cooling pool, which will allow Xcel Energy to continue operating the plant for another 30 years. Project manager Mark McKeown says the first storage module will be loaded sometime between August and October.
Related News
Energy minister unveils Ontario's plan to address growing energy needs
TORONTO - Energy Minister Todd Smith has announced a new plan that outlines the actions the government is taking to address the province's growing demand for electricity.
The government is investing over a billion dollars in "energy-efficiency programs" through 2030 and beyond, Smith said in Windsor.
Experts at Ontario's Independent Electricity System recommended the planning start early to meet demand they predict will require the province to be able to generate 88,000 megawatts (MW) in 20 years.
"That means all of our current supply ... would need to double to meet the anticipated demand by 2050," he said during the announcement.
"While we may…
