Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station hired an independent investigator to examine informant claims.
The executive board of the region’s only nuclear power plant agreed Wednesday to hire an independent investigator to look into whistleblower allegations that the plant’s performance has steadily declined, that it ranks among the worst in the country and that management has been hiding those results from employees, the board and members of the public.
An anonymous letter attributed to employees was circulated to several board members and The Oregonian/Oregonlive in recent weeks. It suggests managers have been glossing over operational and potential safety problems at the plant and pushing to keep it online ‘at all costs.’
The Columbia Generating Station is a 1,200-megawatt reactor located north of Richland, Washington. It is owned and operated by Energy Northwest, a public corporation that sells power at cost to public utilities in the Northwest.
(READ MORE: Oregon Live)
