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Richland-Area Nuclear Plant Back
Online After Unplanned Outage
by Robert Desaulniers
Apple Valley News, February 18, 2026
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Richland-Area Nuclear Plant Back
by Robert Desaulniers
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Nuclear reactor recirculation pumps were not operating normally
RICHLAND, Wash. -- The Columbia Generating Station is back online and providing power to the area after technical staff fixed an issue with the reactor recirculation pumps.
On February 12, officials with Energy Northwest shut down the Columbia Generating Station so technical staff could investigate why the plant's reactor recirculation pumps were not operating normally. The reactor recirculation pumps support the plant operation by circulating water through the reactor core. Officials said it was the first unplanned outage at the plant since 2017.
(bluefish notes: Nuclear plant also shut down unexpectedly in 2018. See Related Stories below.)At about 3:30 p.m. on February 17, the power plant was brought back online and reconnected to the regional power grid. Officials said that while the station was offline, workers conducted repairs, tested the plant and made sure it would operate safely.
"From start to finish, we kept safety and operational excellence at the forefront," said Dawn Sileo, executive vice president and chief nuclear officer with Energy Northwest. "Our team demonstrated strong teamwork, thorough analysis and rigor as we worked to resolve the issue and return the plant to reliable operations."
The next planned refueling outage for the Columbia Generating Station is scheduled for March 2027.
Related Pages:
Investigation Continues as Richland Nuclear Power Plant Restarts by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 5/24/18
Columbia Reconnects to NW Power Grid by Staff, NBC Now, 5/24/18
Nuclear Power Plant Near Tri-Cities is Back Online by Staff, Seattle Times, 5/24/18
Nuclear Plant on Columbia River Temporarily Shuts Down by Steve Law, Portland Tribune, 5/21/18
Nuclear Plant Shuts Down Unexpectedly in Washington by Wire Reports, Bangladesh Post, 5/19/18
Tri-City Nuclear Plant Shuts Down Unexpectedly in Washington State by Associated Press, Seattle Times, 5/18/18
Columbia Generating Station Shuts Down in Unplanned Event by Anna King, KUOW, 5/18/18
Problem Triggers Shutdown of Richland Nuclear Plant by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 5/18/18
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