A LONE racoon managed to shut down one of America鈥檚 biggest nuclear power plants last month. The forest-loving creature brought the Grand Gulf nuclear power station in Mississippi to a grinding halt after finding its way over a 2-metre-high fence into the electrical switchyard of the plant. Unfortunately for the racoon, voltages are stepped up and down in the switchyard to pass electricity between the plant and the power grid.
The racoon caused a short circuit, creating a power fluctuation that triggered an automatic shut-down. Back-up power systems ensured that the plant was never in any danger, but it took 3 days for technicians to get the 1200-megawatt electricity system back on line.
Unlike the plant, however, the racoon failed to survive the experience. 鈥淚 expect he didn鈥檛 suffer for very long,鈥� says Diane Park, spokesperson for Entergy Nuclear, which runs the facility.
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