Exelon slows LaSalle reactor for refueling outage

Exelon Corp. is slowing the LaSalle 2 reactor in Illinois for a refueling outage. The reactor was operating at 89 percent of capacity early today, according to a report from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"The unit is in its end of cycle coastdown," Krista Lopykinski, a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based company, said in an e-mail.

The unit is one of two reactors at the LaSalle station, located about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. LaSalle 1 can supply 1,138 megawatts to the grid and LaSalle 2 about 1,150 megawatts, according to Exelon's Web site.

LaSalle 1 is operating at full capacity, according to the commission.