Nuclear reactors in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas remained at 100% capacity early Aug. 27, even as Hurricane Laura made landfall at roughly 1 am CT as a Category 4 hurricane.
Entergy's 1,222-MW Waterford plant in Louisiana and 1,968-MW Arkansas Nuclear One in Arkansas were at full power, according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's daily reactor status report
STP Nuclear Operating Co.'s 2,624-MW South Texas Project in Texas also was at full power, NRC said.
Entergy's 992-MW River Bend plant in Louisiana was at 87% capacity as it continues a power ascension after being shut Aug. 21 for repairs, the agency said. The company's 1,498-MW Grand Gulf is shut for repairs.
Entergy spokesman Mike Bowling said Aug. 27 that the storm will travel "close to" Arkansas Nuclear One, so the company continues to monitor the storm "to ensure our people have safe access to work."
Bowling said Entergy's operating reactors "all continue to function normally ... we've had no operational issues."
NRC said in a Facebook post Aug. 26 that resident inspectors at the plants are monitoring preparations by utility operators.
"[P]lans are in place to dispatch additional staff to any of the sites if needed," NRC said.
The agency is also monitoring plants "that could be impacted by heavy rain," the Facebook post added.
