Massachusetts nuclear reactor shuts down during snowstorm


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PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts nuclear power plant shut down automatically Tuesday after the blizzard moving through the region interrupted power flow, but there was never any danger to the public, authorities said.

The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, the state's only nuclear power plant, shut down automatically at about 4 a.m. Tuesday when the electrical connections it uses to transmit electricity to the grid were interrupted, plant management said in a statement. Output had already been reduced to 20 percent because of the storm.

The facility was being powered by emergency diesel generators and could tap into an offsite power source if needed, officials said.

"All safety systems worked (as) designed and plant conditions are stable," plant owner Entergy tweeted.

State Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton said he did not know when Pilgrim might go back online.

But plant management said the facility has enough fuel onsite to run the emergency generators for 10 days and can have more fuel delivered, if necessary.

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