ATLANTA, June 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer marks
the 30th anniversary of the start of operations of the
Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Plant Vogtle). Plant
Vogtle Units 1 & 2, which began operation in 1987 and 1989
respectively, are capable of generating a total of 2,430 megawatts
– enough energy to reliably power more than 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses simultaneously.
Approximately 20 percent of Georgia Power's electricity in 2016 was
produced by nuclear generation and Georgians across the state have
benefitted from the investments made in Plant Vogtle and the
state's other nuclear power plant, Plant Hatch.
Available to meet customer demand 24 hours a day, Plant Vogtle
has kept energy flowing in Georgia
over the past 30 years while:
- Producing more than 526 million megawatt total hours of
emission-free electricity.
- Preventing millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions
from power generation. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute
(NEI), Georgia's nuclear plants
prevent more than 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every
year.
"As we mark this incredible milestone for Plant Vogtle and its
team, we remain focused on supporting our communities and ensuring
that we have the most flexible and diverse generation mix in place
to serve our customers today and for decades to come," said
Paul Bowers, chairman, president and
CEO of Georgia Power. "A diverse fuel mix, including nuclear, is
essential to maintaining a reliable and affordable energy
infrastructure that attracts new investment, supports economic
growth and creates jobs. Working with the Georgia Public Service
Commission through the established Integrated Resource Planning
process, we are making the right long-term investments and
producing a competitive and sustainable energy environment in our
state."
In addition to power production for the state's electric
customers, Plant Vogtle's community impact over the last 30 years
includes:
- Stimulation of economic growth in the region through
contributions of nearly $500
million in local tax revenues.
- More than 900 high-quality, permanent jobs for
East Georgia with more than
$1 billion in total wages
for employees.
- A focus on community involvement with plant employees donating
at least 20,000 hours of community service to various causes
and employee and corporate contributions of more than
$4.5 million to United Way of the
Central Savannah River Area.
About Plant Vogtle
Plant Vogtle sits on a 3,200-acre
site along the Savannah River, in Burke
County near Waynesboro,
Georgia. The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear and
jointly owned by Georgia Power (45.7 percent), Oglethorpe Power (30
percent), MEAG Power (22.7 percent) and Dalton Utilities (1.6
percent). In June 2009, Plant
Vogtle's operating license was extended for 20 years. Construction
of two new nuclear units at the site (Vogtle 3 & 4) is
currently underway.
The plant is located in a rural area that supports diverse
wildlife and, with management programs that enhance habitat for
species such as bluebirds, wood ducks and wild turkey, Plant Vogtle
has been a certified Wildlife Habitat Council site since 1993. The
plant also currently maintains a Safe Harbor Agreement with the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the red cockaded
woodpecker, a federal endangered species.
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 2.5 million customers in all but four
of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean,
safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national
average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation
mix that includes nuclear, 21st century 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 consistently recognized by J.D. Power
and Associates 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).
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.
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SOURCE Georgia Power