Xcel Energy to deliver report on Prairie Island safety

Xcel Energy will report Tuesday on how it is handling problems at its Prairie Island nuclear power plant.

A year-and-a-half ago the Nuclear Regulatory Commission described a pattern of human errors at Prairie Island -- one of only a handful of plants nationwide getting extra inspections to make sure it operates safely.

Workers have been whittling down a list of nearly 1,500 items to attend to.

Xcel has applied for a license extension at Prairie Island. While the current license expires in 2013, there's no requirement that Xcel clear its safety record before the license is granted.

At tonight's meeting, Xcel will report to the NRC on its progress, and the public will have a chance to speak. It starts at 6:00 p.m. at the public library in Red Wing.

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