At the start of Saturday, personnel at the D.C. Cook Nuclear Station initiated a controlled shutdown of Unit 2 to commence its planned autumn refueling and maintenance period. This procedure occurs every 18 months for each of the facility’s two reactors, ensuring continued safe and efficient operations while simultaneously injecting significant economic activity into the surrounding area. The timing proves particularly beneficial during transitional periods—spring and fall—when tourism declines and local businesses rely on alternative sources of income.
For this outage, over 1,200 temporary contractors have arrived to support the plant’s permanent workforce, undertaking thousands of technical tasks around the clock. The effort will accumulate close to 200,000 labor hours, executed in 12-hour shifts across seven days each week. Throughout the shutdown, Unit 1 will remain fully operational, maintaining uninterrupted power delivery to consumers. When both units are active, the facility generates sufficient zero-emission electricity to meet the needs of more than 1.5 million typical households.
The current maintenance window includes critical equipment inspections and modernization projects, reinforcing the long-term reliability of the 50-year-old energy site. Operated by Indiana Michigan Power, a division of American Electric Power, the plant continues to serve as one of the region’s largest employers and a cornerstone of economic stability. These recurring outages provide an additional surge in regional spending, supporting hotels, dining establishments, and retail outlets across Southwest Michigan.
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Cook Plant Brings Big Fall Economic Boost with Refueling Outage Starting Today
Early Saturday morning, operators at the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant powered down Unit 2 to begin its scheduled fall refueling and maintenance outage. n nEvery 18 months, each of Cook’s two generating units undergoes this process, which not only keeps the plant running safely and efficiently but also provides a major economic lift to the region. The timing is especially helpful in the “shoulder seasons” of spring and fall, when tourism traffic slows and local hotels, restaurants, and shops welcome the influx of visiting workers. n nThis fall, more than 1,200 specialized contractors have joined Cook’s regular staff for the outage, which will involve thousands of maintenance and upgrade tasks around the clock. The work is expected to total nearly 200,000 labor hours, spread across 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. n nWhile Unit 2 is offline, Unit 1 continues to operate at full power, and customers will not notice any disruption in service. When both units are online, Cook produces enough carbon-free electricity to power more than 1.5 million average homes. n nThe current outage includes a variety of equipment upgrades and inspections, ensuring the 50-year-old plant remains reliable well into the future. n nOwned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, Cook remains one of the area’s largest employers and economic drivers — with these cyclical refueling outages serving as an added boost to Southwest Michigan’s economy.