2 nuclear power stations enhanced

BRAIDWOOD -- Exelon Nuclear's Braidwood Generating Station resumed generating electricity at 9:20 p.m. Saturday for Illinois consumers and businesses after a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage was completed successfully. The refueling outage began Oct. 11.

Meanwhile, operators took Dresden Generating Station Unit 2 near Morris offline at 1 a.m. Monday to begin a scheduled refueling and maintenance outage.

The Dresden station will also complete several major plant modifications during this outage that will enhance Unit 2's reliability.

"During this (Braidwood) outage, workers replaced about one-third of the uranium fuel. They also completed a large number of equipment maintenance tasks and upgrades that will ensure Unit 2 continues to provide electricity that emits virtually no greenhouse gases," said Amir Shahkarami, Braidwood site vice president.

Employees and supplemental workers performed more than 10,000 inspection and maintenance activities on various components of the plant. Many of the activities performed during the outage cannot be done while the unit is operating, and all are designed to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the plant.

More than 1,500 additional workers were on-site to support the outage. The outage provided temporary employment opportunities for local trade professionals and others who travel to Braidwood from outside the area.

During the 19-day outage, Braidwood Unit 1 continued to supply electricity to Exelon customers.

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