Ida shuts Entergy's Waterford-3 nuclear plant because of off-site power loss

Entergy shut its 1.2-GW Waterford-3 nuclear plant in Killona, Louisiana, at 6:12 pm CT Aug. 29 after off-site electrical power was lost because of Hurricane Ida, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Facebook Aug. 30.

"The plant responded as designed, maintaining safe shutdown conditions with power from emergency diesel generators," NRC said.

Entergy spokesperson Mike Bowling said Aug. 30 that Waterford-3 was disconnected from the grid Aug. 29 at 10:29 am CT "per procedure as storm winds escalated."

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The company's 992-MW River Bend-1 in St. Francisville, Louisiana, was operating at 35% of capacity early Aug. 30, NRC said.

The unit reduced power at the request of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Bowling said.

The action was taken "to preserve grid integrity" in the wake of Hurricane Ida, he said.

"The situation is fluid, and power levels could change in coordination with grid operators," Bowling added.

Entergy's 1.5-GW Grand Gulf-1 in Port Gibson, Mississippi, was operating at 100%, "with no significant weather-related issues expected from Ida," NRC said.

"No significant flooding has been reported at any of the sites," the agency said.

The National Hurricane Center downgraded Ida to a tropical storm early Aug. 30.

Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, at 11:55 am CT Aug. 29.

At 2 pm CT it made a second landfall as a Category 4 hurricane southwest of Galliano, Louisiana.