Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station (Fermi II), near Monroe, MI
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S5280ft
N 41° 58.037 W 083° 15.463
17T E 312920 N 4648609
Located at the end of Fermi Drive off of North Dixie Highway. The massive steam clouds are easily visible from I-75, only 4 miles away.
Waymark Code: WM1434
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 01/07/2007
Views: 333
From WIKIPEDIA.COM:
The plant is named after the Italian-born American nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi, most noted for his work on the development of the first nuclear reactor, and for the development of quantum theory. Fermi won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on induced radioactivity.
Fermi 1
The 94MWe prototype fast breeder reactor Fermi 1 unit operated at the site from 1963 to 1972. On October 5, 1966 Fermi 1 suffered a partial nuclear meltdown. No radiation was released off-site, and no one was injured. The accident was attributed to a piece of zirconium that obstructed a flow-guide in the sodium cooling system. Two of the 105 fuel assemblies melted during the incident, but no contamination was recorded outside the containment vessel. Fermi 1 continued to operate until September 22, 1972; however, it was not officially decommissioned until December 31, 1975. Designs for a successor plant were soon submitted.
Fermi 2 is a 1098 net MWe General Electric boiling water reactor operated by Detroit Edison and owned by DTE Energy. It was opened in July 1985 after the demolition of the old Fermi reactor--now retronymically called "Fermi 1"--was deemed necessary but a nuclear power plant was also deemed necessary for the needs of Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. It is currently in operation.
Operational: Yes
Visitor Center: No
Year Built: 07/01/1963
Web Address: [Web Link]
Year Retired: Not listed
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