Vogtle Unit 4 nuclear power plant enters commercial operation in Georgia

Plant Vogtle Unit 4 officially entered commercial operation this week and is now serving customers in the state of Georgia, Georgia Power officials announced. The units at Vogtle are the first new nuclear build projects in the United States in more than 30 years.

The new unit, which can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses, will provide emissions-free nuclear energy to customers for at least 60 to 80 years. In follows Vogtle Unit 3, which entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023. The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear on behalf of the co-owners including Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

With all four units now in operation, Plant Vogtle is the largest generator of clean energy in the nation, producing more than 30 million megawatt hours of electricity each year. Nuclear energy is the only zero-emission baseload energy source available today, offering high reliability and efficient operations around the clock. For 2023, it provided more than 25 percent of Georgia Power’s generation, including Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch in Baxley, Ga.

“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,” Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, said. “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 delivering clean power, the construction of the new units at Plant Vogtle has provided billions of dollars of economic impact for Georgia and local communities. Further, the new units have created 800 permanent jobs and 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,” Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company, said. “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.”