DATE:           March 24, 2023
                      For Immediate Release

CONTACT:  Haley Foster
                     (763) 295-2711 | Haley.Foster@ci.monticello.mn.us

Statement from the Mayor on the Xcel Energy Shutdown of the Monticello Nuclear Plant

The safety of Monticello’s residents has been and continues to be our number one priority. We are glad Xcel Energy was closely monitoring the situation and decided to shut down the plant to make permanent repairs immediately to address the recurring issue of water containing tritium leaking from the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.  

City Staff have spoken with Xcel Energy and learned that it was discovered yesterday that the temporary patch on the pipe at the Monticello Plant began leaking again. Xcel Energy is following protocols and submitted a notice to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Minnesota. Those notices will be posted as a secondary leak alert; however, Xcel Energy officials want to emphasize to the Monticello community that this is not a new leak in a new location on the plant, but the existing leak location. They would also like to note that this leak did not leave their facility’s property and merged in the same area as the existing tritium water accumulation.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) says, “State agencies have no evidence at this point to indicate a current or imminent risk to the public and will continue to monitor groundwater samples. Should an imminent risk arise, we will inform the public promptly. The MPCA and the Minnesota Department of Health will continue to review Xcel’s response to the groundwater contamination and oversee the recovery, storage, and disposal of the impacted groundwater.”

The public water system operated by the City of Monticello has been unaffected by the leak at Xcel. The leak occurred outside of Monticello’s Wellhead Protection Area, the specific area surrounding our public water supply that contributes groundwater to municipal wells. We will continue to monitor the situation and are testing the municipal water supply as a precaution.

If residents would like to know more about the situation, Xcel Energy and staff from the State of Minnesota will be hosting informational open houses for the Monticello community on Friday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday, March 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Bridge Room at the Monticello Community Center. 

The public is invited to stop by whenever they’re available during the scheduled times, get their questions answered, and learn more about the resources available for our community. If you have any questions about the open houses, please visit Xcel Energy’s Contact Us page.

- Mayor Lloyd Hilgart