ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The
two-million-pound roof of the Vogtle Unit 3 shield building has
been set into place at Georgia Power's nuclear expansion project
near Waynesboro, Georgia. The
shield building is a unique feature of the AP1000 reactor design
for Vogtle 3 & 4, providing an additional layer of safety
around the containment vessel and nuclear reactor to protect the
structure from any potential impacts.
The shield building roof measures 135 feet in diameter, 37 feet
tall and weighs more than two fully-loaded jumbo jets. This
placement follows the setting of the Unit 3 containment vessel top
from earlier this year.
Click here to view a time-lapse video of the placement.
In addition, another important milestone has been achieved with
the completion of the first emergency preparedness drill for the
Vogtle 3 & 4 new nuclear units, which includes a comprehensive
review of the site's plans to ensure the protection of the public.
The emergency preparedness plan specifies the response actions if
the site were ever to experience an incident. The first drill helps
prepare teams ahead of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC)
evaluated exercise next year and marks the continued transition
from construction toward operations.
Vogtle 3 & 4 is currently the largest jobs-producing
construction project in the state of Georgia, with more than 8,000 workers
currently on site, and more than 800 jobs available once the units
begin operating.
Follow the progress being made at the site with the Plant Vogtle
3 and 4 Online Photo Gallery and Georgia Power YouTube
channel.
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 2.6
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, 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).
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
schedule for construction of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 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, 2018 and
subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ
materially from management expectations as suggested by such
forward-looking information: the ability to control costs and avoid
cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction,
and operation of facilities, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4,
which includes components based on new technology that only
recently began initial operation in the global nuclear industry at
this scale, and including changes in labor costs, availability and
productivity; challenges with management of contractors,
subcontractors or vendors; adverse weather conditions; shortages,
delays, increased costs or inconsistent quality of equipment,
materials, and labor; contractor or supplier delay; nonperformance
under construction, operating, or other agreements; operational
readiness, including specialized operator training and required
site safety programs; engineering or design problems; design and
other licensing-based compliance matters, including the timely
submittal by Southern Nuclear of the Inspections, Tests, Analyses,
and Acceptance Criteria documentation for each unit and the related
reviews and approvals by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
("NRC") necessary to support NRC authorization to load fuel;
challenges with start-up activities, including major equipment
failure, system integration or regional transmission upgrades;
and/or operational performance; the ability to construct facilities
in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses
(including satisfaction of NRC requirements), to satisfy any
environmental performance standards and the requirements of tax
credits and other incentives, and to integrate facilities into the
Southern Company system upon completion of construction; legal
proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions related to
construction projects, such as Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 and
pipeline projects, including public service commission approvals
and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and NRC actions; under
certain specified circumstances, a decision by holders of more than
10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to
proceed with construction, and the ability of other Vogtle owners
to tender a portion of their ownership interests to Georgia Power
following certain construction cost increases; the inherent risks
involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating
facilities; the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power and its
subsidiaries to make payments as and when due and to perform as
required. Georgia Power expressly disclaims any obligation to
update any forward‐looking information.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vogtle-unit-3-shield-building-roof-set-300972443.html
SOURCE Georgia Power