where is prairie island nuclear plant located
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. The Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant is a two-unit pressurized water reactor (PWR) of Westinghouse design. The plant is located on the Mississippi River about 40 miles southeast of the Twin Cities and about 5 miles north of Red Wing, Minn. The Unit 1 reactor began operating in December 1973 and the Unit 2 reactor in December 1974. About 800 people are employed full time at Prairie Island. Xcel Energy also owns the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant in Monticello, Minn.