© Reuters / Mike SegarThe Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York, is seen from across the Hudson River.
Unit 3 of the nuclear plant, which is located on the east bank of the Hudson River, was automatically shut down following Saturday's accident, the plant's operator Entergy Corp has said.
Large transformer explosion at Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. Several Westchester County units on scene operating pic.twitter.com/thmY8uNKsv
— RocklandFires (@RocklandFires) May 9, 2015According to the company, the nuclear reactor was not damaged and there was "no threat to public safety at any time."
Indian Point safely shut down following transformer failure outside of nuclear side of plant; No danger to public health and safety.
— Indian Point Energy (@Indian_Point) May 9, 2015Witnesses posted alarming images of smoke billowing from the plant on social media, saying it followed a large blast and fire.
"It was a huge black ball of smoke and alarms went off immediately," tweeted Gustavus Gricius, a witness near the scene.
— Gustavus Gricius (@GustavusHimself) May 9, 2015The plant's Unit 2 reactor has continued operating and the fire was put out by the automatic sprinkler system and on-site personnel, Entergy Corp spokesman Jerry Nappi told Reuters. No people were reported injured.
Nappi confirmed that the transformers are located some 100 meters from the reactors inside the security zone. Nuclear Safety Project director Dave Lochbaum also downplayed the potential for danger caused by the accident, telling NBC New York that "transformer explosions are not uncommon - they happen roughly three or four times a year across the industry."
Indian Point's 1,031-megawatt Unit 3 had just been brought back online on Friday, after being shut down for a steam leak repair. The plant dates back to 1962, although the currently used reactors were installed later in the 70s.
Explosion Reported At Indian Point Nuclear Plant - http://t.co/V9yBFaKJcS pic.twitter.com/Hjr8hCZ4VK
— All The News (@AllTheNewscom) May 10, 2015The Indian Point Energy Center produces some 25 percent of New York City's and Westchester's electricity. The combined power generated by the two units amounts to over 2000 megawatts. The facility employs some 1,600 people.
The plant has been a subject of controversy due to its proximity to NYC. Several environmental groups have been calling for Indian Point's permanent shutdown for years. It also has a history of transformer accidents and various leaks, including a 2012 explosion in the main transformer that spilled oil into the river and caused Entergy to pay a fine of a $1.2 million.
Comment: In the last week alone there have been many other cases of transformer explosions and electrical anomalies, including:
- An underground transformer blew causing underground explosions and a fire knocking out power in Charleston, West Virginia.
- Con Edison says explosions blew the covers of two manholes in Midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning - with no sign of 'snow and salt', the typical combination attributed to such incidents!
- A Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale to LaGuardia made an emergency landing in Charleston, South Carolina, after a "performance issue" with one of the engines caused the cabin to fill with smoke.
- A "very violent" fire at Rome's Fiumicino airport last week was probably caused by a "short circuit".
As well as traditional causes such as leaking gas mains, creaking infrastructure and lack of adequate maintenance - maybe we need to consider other potential causes to these rapidly escalating incidents?As seismic and volcanic activity intensifies, increased outgassing of methane, and other gases like hydrogen sulfide, from deep below the planet's surface could be igniting?
Perhaps some incidents are related 'electrically' in part to the 'grounding' of our Solar System?
See: SOTT Exclusive: Solar System 'grounding':Transformer explosions and electrical anomalies