San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
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The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) is a nuclear power plant located on the Pacific coast of California, between Los Angeles and San Diego. The 84 acre (340,000 m²) site is in the northwestern corner of San Diego County, south of San Clemente, and surrounded by the San Onofre State Park. It provides nearly 20% of the electrical power to the residents of Southern California.
Unit 1 is no longer in service. This reactor was a first generation Westinghouse pressurized water reactor that operated for 25 years, closing permanently in 1992. Units 2 and 3, Combustion Engineering pressurized water reactors, continue to operate and generate 1172 MWe and 1178 MWe respectively. Units 2 and 3 are well-known locally, for their side-by-side containment domes resembling a pair of breasts.
The plant is operated by Southern California Edison. Edison International, parent of SCE, holds 75% ownership in the plant; San Diego Gas & Electric Company, 20%; City of Anaheim Public Utilities Department, 3.2%; and the City of Riverside Utilities Department, 1.8%.
[edit] In popular culture
In the James W. Huston book, FALLOUT, Pakistani Air Force Pilots attempt to bomb San Onofre using stolen California Air National Guard F-16s. The generating station was also featured in the 1988 movie The Naked Gun.