The Gist: In a significant stride towards a clean energy future, Georgia Power announced today that Plant Vogtle Unit 3 has begun commercial operation, serving customers with emissions-free energy.
This marks the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in over 30 years.
What Happened?: Kim Greene, chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power, lauded the achievement as a testament to the company’s commitment to building a reliable and resilient energy future for the state. The new unit is expected to serve customers for the next 60 to 80 years.
Once all four units are online, the Plant Vogtle site will be the largest generator of clean energy in the nation. This will support continued growth in Georgia as more industries, businesses, and families come to the state.
By The Numbers:
- Vogtle Unit 3 can power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses.
- Nuclear energy currently provides approximately 25% of Georgia Power’s overall energy mix.
- The final stages of construction and testing continue at Vogtle Unit 4, with the unit projected to be placed in service during the late fourth quarter 2023 or the first quarter of 2024.
Why It Matters: The operation of Vogtle Unit 3 is a significant milestone in the U.S. energy sector, marking the first new nuclear unit in over 30 years. As the only zero-emission baseload energy source available today, nuclear energy offers high reliability and efficient operations around the clock. This development is a crucial step towards achieving a clean energy future for the United States.
What’s Next?: The final stages of construction and testing continue at Vogtle Unit 4, which is projected to be placed in service during the late fourth quarter 2023 or the first quarter of 2024. The Vogtle site has also received nuclear fuel for Unit 4, with a total of 157 fuel assemblies necessary for the safe and reliable startup of the unit.
For more information on Plant Vogtle, you can read our previous articles here and here.
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