Rosalind Evans
Commercial operations have commenced for a novel reactor at a nuclear power station in Georgia, marking the first American reactor built from the ground up in numerous decades. Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, situated southeast of Augusta, has successfully finished testing and consistently delivers power to the grid, as revealed by Georgia Power Co. on Monday.
Once at total capacity, Unit 3 will generate 1,100 megawatts of electricity to supply power to 500,000 homes and businesses. The electricity generated is being dispersed to Georgia, Florida, and Alabama utilities.
Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Co., now produces about 25% of its energy from nuclear power.
The power plant is also on the verge of completing a fourth reactor, adding to the two existing reactors supplying electricity for several years. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted permission to load radioactive fuel into Unit 4, which is anticipated to be operational by March after it completes the process by the end of September.
Originally projected to cost $14 billion, the third and fourth reactors’ expenditures have soared to $31 billion. This does not account for the $3.7 billion paid by the original contractor, Westinghouse, to the owners for withdrawing from the project, which effectively pushes total expenditure close to $35 billion.
The construction of the third reactor started in 2009 and was expected to begin power generation by 2016.
The Vogtle project’s importance is underscored by government officials’ and utilities’ renewed interest in nuclear power as a solution to mitigating climate change, as it generates electricity without burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil.
Southern Co. CEO, Chris Womack, praised the project, saying, “This initiative exemplifies how nuclear energy will play a vital role in shaping a carbon-free future for the United States. The successful commencement of this unit is a testament to the commitment and hard work of our teams at Southern Company and the numerous workers who contributed to this project.”
In Georgia, almost all electric consumers will finance the Vogtle project. Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the reactors, with the remaining shares held by Oglethorpe Power Corp., the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and the city of Dalton. The plan is for Oglethorpe and MEAG to sell power to cooperatives and municipal utilities across Georgia, Jacksonville, Florida, and parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers have already begun contributing to the financing cost, and public service commissioners have sanctioned a monthly rate hike of $3.78 for residential consumers as soon as the third unit becomes operational. This increase is anticipated to be reflected in bills by August, following a $16 per month rise two months earlier due to increased fuel costs.
Decisions about who will bear the remaining costs of the Vogtle project, including the fourth reactor, will be made by the commissioners in due course.
The Vogtle project, marking a significant milestone in the American nuclear sector, has been fraught with financial and operational challenges. However, the successful commencement of commercial operations for Unit 3 is a testament to the potential role of nuclear power in the country’s clean energy future. The project also highlights the need for strategic planning, investment, and regulatory oversight to ensure that such initiatives are economically sustainable and beneficial to consumers. As the fourth reactor nears completion, all eyes are on the outcome, which could potentially shape the future of nuclear power in the United States.
