Fortunately, no Fukushima-like nuclear disaster so far in the wake of today's earthquake in Virginia.
As to what happens when "The Big One" hits Southern California, that's another story.
Don't expect any changes to the nuclear industry status quo such as a return to coal power or solar/wind power on a widespread basis anytime in the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, nothing like making sure you have a whopping 3 days of fuel to run backup generators at a major nuclear power plant.
August 23, 2011 7:16 p.m. EDT
(CNN) – Tuesday’s Virginia earthquake triggered the shutdown of a nearby nuclear power plant and spurred declarations of “unusual events” at plants as far away as Michigan, U.S. authorities reported.
Dominion Virginia Power said both reactors at its North Anna plant, less than 20 miles from the epicenter of the magnitude-5.8 quake, shut down after the first tremors. Amanda Reidelbach, an emergency management spokeswoman for Louisa County, said the plant vented steam, but there was no release of radioactive material.
David Heacock, the utility’s chief nuclear officer, said the 1,800-megawatt plant was operating on emergency power and the two pressurized-water reactors were safely deactivated.
“The plants are designed for this kind of a seismic event,” Heacock said. “There is no apparent damage to anything at the plant right now.”
Heacock said the plant had four diesel generators supplying backup power and that those generators had three days of fuel. Crews were still working to restore off-site power to the plant Tuesday evening, the utility said.
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