BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant
operators safely removed Unit 1 of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric
Generating Plant offline on Sunday, March
12, at 5 a.m. ET for a
scheduled refueling outage.
Each of the two units at Plant Vogtle requires new fuel every 18
months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 1 was completed
in the fall of 2015.
In addition to refueling the reactor during the outage, workers
will perform regular maintenance, testing and upgrades to plant
equipment.
"Safety is our number one priority during the refueling outage,"
said Keith Taber, site vice
president for Vogtle units 1 and 2. "A safe and successful
outage is achieved through the focus of the entire organization –
our employees and our supporting partners. The station has planned
for this refueling outage for over a year. This planning
ensures the activities are coordinated to ensure safety is
maintained at the highest level."
Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet as well as
nearly 1,100 additional workers from Westinghouse, General
Electric, Day & Zimmermann, Williams Corporation and other
companies have come to the plant to assist the site employees in
completing the multiple task required to ensure the unit will run
safely and reliably for the next 18 months.
These additional workers provide considerable economic stimulus
to surrounding communities during their stay in the area.
Vogtle Unit 2 will continue to safely generate electricity while
Unit 1 is offline and refueling.
About Southern Nuclear:
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO),
is a leader among the nation's nuclear energy facility operators
and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear
is an essential part of Southern Company's energy portfolio, and
its importance will continue to grow as America transitions to a
low-carbon energy future. While the company produces clean, safe
and reliable nuclear energy, it's also an economic engine powered
by quality jobs and community service. Southern Nuclear operates a
total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
near Baxley, Ga.; and the Alvin W.
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the
licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at
Plant Vogtle that are among the first nuclear units being
constructed in the United States
in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear received numerous accolades
in 2016 for leadership in the advancement of nuclear energy
including the Special Achievement Award by the United States
Nuclear Infrastructure Council and the Presidential Citation by the
American Nuclear Society. Southern Nuclear also received two of the
Nuclear Energy Institute's Top Innovative Practice awards and
special recognition for achieving excellence in research and
performance. Southern Nuclear's Plant Hatch received the ANS
Operations & Power Division's Utility Achievement Award for
plant improvements that resulted in a record-setting refueling
outage duration. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear;
www.southernnuclear.com
About Southern Company:
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 44,000 MW of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet
of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9
million electric and gas utility customers through its
subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric utilities in four states,
natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive
generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a
nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as
well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and
energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the
benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S.
Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs
magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50
Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise
magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and
designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The
company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History
from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and
commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among
the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric
and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at
www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear