MORRIS -- One of two nuclear reactors at Exelon Corp.'s Dresden Generating Station has been shut down to begin scheduled refueling and maintenance work.

An additional 1,600 workers will be brought in to help perform more than 9,000 inspections and maintenance activities during the outage.

The work will include replacing about one-third of the reactor's fuel. Workers will also replace the unit's main power transformers.

Many of the operations can't be done while the unit's operating. The second reactor will continue to supply electricity to the area.

The power plant is located about 60 miles southwest of Chicago.