Calif. central coast nuclear plant reactor restarted after creatures forced shut down

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant has restarted its Unit 2 reactor six days after the California central coast plant was shut down because jellyfish-like creatures clogged seawater intake screens.

Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Tom Cuddy says the Unit 2 reactor was safely returned to full power on Monday.

Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman Tom Cuddy says the Unit 2 reactor was safely returned to full power on Monday.

Southerly winds began blowing salps into the plant's cooling water intake cove early last week. Salps are small barrel-shaped plankton tunicates similar to jellyfish.

Unit 2 was shut down on April 26 because salps clogged rolling screens at the San Luis Obispo County plant's beach intake structure.

The Unit 1 reactor had been shut down earlier in April for scheduled refueling.

The twin-reactor PG&E plant generates enough power for more than 3 million homes in Central and Northern California.

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