Numerous atomic reactors shut down or reduce power as Hurricane Irene batters East Coast

Bloomberg has reported that the Oyster Creek reactor in NJ shut down as a safety precaution, while one of the Calvert Cliffs reactors in MD was forced to automatically shut down when wind driven debris damaged its main transformer. The twin Brunswick reactors in NC lowered powere to 70%, and the two operating reactors at Millstone nuclear power plant in CT lowered power levels to 70% and 50%, of normal as a safety precaution, in case they had to quickly shut down completely. However, the Surry reactor in VA, the two Indian Point, NY reactors, Calvert Cliffs Unit 2 in MD, and Pilgrim in MA continued to operate at full power levels throughout the storm. (As of August 26th, North Anna Units 1 and 2 were still shutdown following last week's Mineral, VA earthquake, epicentered just a few miles away -- hopefully they were kept shutdown given Hurricane Irene's approach).