With more than 4 million customers across the southeastern United States, Southern Company has a huge responsibility in providing power to those customers as well as future customers. In particular, the state of Georgia has experienced significant growth in population over the last several years, and those numbers are expected to continue to grow in the years to come. To help it keep up with the need anticipated in the region over the coming years, Southern Company’s nuclear generation subsidiary, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, is taking a major step to address the region’s future needs. 

Southern Nuclear Operating Company is in the middle of building two new nuclear power generation facilities at its Plant Vogtle facility near Waynesboro, Ga. These will be the first new nuclear generation facilities built in the United States in more than 30 years, and the company says it understands the massive responsibility that comes with the project. 

The construction of the Vogtle No. 3 and No. 4 nuclear generating units are expected to generate enough combined electricity to power more than half-a-million homes and businesses within its service area, and the economic benefits of the project already are being felt. According to Southern Nuclear, the Vogtle No. 3 and No. 4 projects combine to form the largest job-producing project in the state of Georgia, employing more than 5,500 construction workers on-site and creating more than 800 permanent jobs once the units come online in 2019 and 2020. Those benefits are in addition to the substantial benefits that the new generation facilities will provide for the company’s electricity customers. 

“The facility is an investment in the future and is expected to provide significant long-term fuel savings for our customers over its lifetime,” the company says.

Major Project

Situated on 3,200 acres along the Savannah River, Plant Vogtle’s existing generation facilities feature two 355-ton reactor vessels and two 548-foot-high cooling towers. It is named for Alvin W. Vogtle, former chairman of the board for Southern Company, World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient. 

The facility is owned jointly by Southern Company subsidiary Georgia Power, co-operative Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Southern Nuclear operates the plant along with two other nuclear facilities owned by Southern Company. 

As of March, work on Vogtle Unit 3 and Unit 4 had reached some major milestones. The Unit 3 cooling tower was topped off at 601 feet, while the construction of the Unit 4 cooling tower had commenced. The company says despite some schedule challenges, the units are scheduled to be completed by 2019 and 2020. 

Renewed Commitment

Recently, Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning was recognized by the National Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee (LAMPAC) with the John D. Dingell Award for the company’s commitment to building new nuclear generation at Plant Vogtle. “Leading the way in new nuclear development requires a shared focus on safety and quality as the highest priorities,” Fanning said in a statement. “This award is a tribute to the thousands of men and women dedicated to ensuring nuclear remains a dominant solution for America’s energy future through the construction of Vogtle units 3 and 4.” 

The John D. Dingell Award is presented by LAMPAC to energy industry leaders who advance the common objectives of the industry and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The award is named for the longest-serving member of Congress John D. Dingell, who served for many years as the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

Good Neighbors

In addition to setting numerous safety and reliability records in the nuclear industry, Plant Vogtle has been a certified Wildlife Habitat Council site since 1993. The company says the plant has replanted more than 600 acres of pine trees along with establishing management programs to protect wildlife including wood ducks, bluebirds and wild turkeys. 

“Plant Vogtle has entered into a Safe Harbor Agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the red cockaded woodpecker, a federal endangered species,” the company says. “This Safe Harbor Agreement ensures that adequate habitat will be provided and managed properly for the red cockaded woodpecker.”