"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:i5K_e.410799$xm3.180028@attbi_s21...

Um, well, these aren't quite the '50s and '60s vintage, but Zion Nuclear
Power Plant in Zion, IL, was built in 1970. It's still chugging along 35
years later.

SNIP
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


Actually the reactors at Zion were shut down many years ago. It was over
economics and politics. The plant (generators) is being used as an exciter
at the North end of ComEds grid. The NRC license may still be in effect, but
the reactors are not running. It has been a number of years since I left
ComEd but Zion 1 & 2 were mothballed when I did leave. I'd find it hard to
belive they were restarted.

Dresden Unit #1 was down for refuel when TMI happened, I was working in the
RX building when I first got the news. In the aftermath, it was determined
that Unit #1 did not produce sufficient power to pay for the new
modifications required for startup post TMI. The unit was turned into a test
lab and the results of those tests are responsible for extending the life
span of BWRs. Units 2 and 3 were also co-labrats to Unit 1, in that the
findings of Unit 1 tests were verified in real time on them. The biggest
life extension was the injection of hydrogen which drastically reduced the
oxidation of the steel.

Just a little nuke trivia,

Marty