The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant is offline for refueling and maintenance.

The owners of the nation's oldest nuclear power plant took it offline early Monday morning so that about a third of its fuel can be replaced. Workers also will perform maintenance that can only be done when the plant is not generating power.

Exelon won't say how long it expects Oyster Creek to be offline.

It is due to shut down in 2019.

Oyster Creek is located about 60 miles east of Philadelphia in Lacey Township. It generates enough electricity to power 600,000 homes, or roughly all the homes in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined.

 

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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