Plant Vogtle now the largest generator of
clean energy in U.S.
ATLANTA, April 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power declared today
that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has entered commercial operation and is
now serving customers and the State of
Georgia. The new unit, which can produce enough electricity
to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses, will provide
reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for at least 60 to 80
years. Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023 (read more).
With all four units now in operation, Plant Vogtle is the
largest generator of clean energy in the nation, expected to
produce more than 30 million megawatt hours of electricity each
year. The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear on behalf of the
co-owners including Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and
Dalton Utilities. Nuclear energy is the only zero-emission baseload
energy source available today – offering high reliability and
efficient operations around the clock – and, for 2023, provided
more than 25% of Georgia Power's generation, including Plant Vogtle
and Plant Hatch in Baxley,
Georgia.
The construction of Vogtle 3 & 4 was originally approved by
the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) as part of the
continuous Integrated Resource Plan process. This regulatory
process includes robust analysis and discussion of the company's
plan, typically filed every three years, outlining how it will
continue delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for
millions of customers over a 20-year planning horizon. In addition
to the Vogtle expansion, this process has helped bring thousands of
megawatts of new renewable energy to Georgia in recent years, as well as new
technologies such as battery energy storage systems.
"It's an exciting time to be a Georgian as our state continues
to grow and thrive, with new demand for more clean energy each
year. The new Vogtle units are a key piece of our strategy to meet
the energy needs of our customers not only tomorrow, but 20 years
from now," said Kim Greene,
chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "As we mark the
completion of the Vogtle 3 & 4 expansion, we're grateful for
the leadership and foresight of the Georgia PSC, as well as the
steadfast dedication from all of the project's co-owners. I'm also
so proud of the teams who have worked tirelessly to deliver the
first newly constructed nuclear units in the U.S. in more than 30
years – representing a long-term investment that will benefit our
customers and the state of Georgia
for decades to come."
In addition to providing a new source of clean, reliable energy
for Georgia, the construction of
the new units at Plant Vogtle has provided billions of dollars of
positive economic impact for Georgia and local communities. In addition to
the 800 permanent jobs created by the new units, the site employed
more than 9,000 onsite jobs at the peak of construction including
engineers, welders, electricians, pipefitters, plumbers and many
more.
"The completion of the expansion of the Vogtle nuclear
generation plant to include Unit 3 and now Unit 4 is a hallmark
achievement for Southern Company, the state of Georgia and the entire United States," said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of
Southern Company. "Working with our partners across government,
industry, labor and beyond, we have added new nuclear generation to
the diverse energy resources that enhance the reliability,
resiliency and affordability of our system as we work to achieve
our goal to be net zero by 2050. These new Vogtle units not only
will support the economy within our communities now and in the
future, they demonstrate our global nuclear leadership."
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service
and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to
2.7 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159
counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative
generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well
as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power
focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every
day and the company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry
leader in customer satisfaction. For more information,
visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company
on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram
(Instagram.com/ga_power).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain information contained in this release is
forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans
that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information
includes, among other things, statements concerning the expected
service life for Plant Vogtle Unit 4. Georgia Power cautions that
there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking information that has been
provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this
forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future
performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power;
accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results
will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those
discussed in Georgia Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent
securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially
from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking
information: the inherent risks involved in operating and
constructing nuclear generating facilities; the direct or indirect
effect on Georgia Power's business resulting from cyber intrusion
or physical attack and the threat of cyber and physical attacks;
catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods,
tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health
events, political unrest, wars or other similar occurrences; and
the direct or indirect effects on Georgia Power's business
resulting from incidents affecting the U.S. electric grid or
operation of generating or storage resources. Georgia Power
expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power