Watch CBS News

Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant Shuts Down After Water Leak Detected

FRENCHTOWN TWP. (WWJ/AP) - DTE Energy Co. says it has shut down the Fermi 2 nuclear power plant after a water leak was detected within the dry well that encloses its reactor.

Crews were shutting the plant down around 7 a.m. Thursday morning when a monitoring system took over as a safety measure and the plant shut down automatically, DTE spokesman Guy Cerullo told the Monroe News.

Cerullo said Saturday that officials are still working to determine an exact cause. He said the leak -- which was contained -- was found to be from a system that cools heat exchanges in the plant and not the reactor, which remains safe.

The plant is along Lake Erie in Monroe County's Frenchtown Township.

Fermi has been in operation since Jan. 1988, after a construction period that spanned 20 years. Its operating units include Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan; MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan; and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading.

TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.