ATLANTA, March 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
has ordered the first nuclear fuel load for Vogtle Unit 4,
completing the initial fuel order needed to operate the first
newly-designed reactors in the U.S. in 30 years. Fuel for Unit 3
was ordered last summer and completing the fuel order for Unit
4 marks another significant milestone
at the Vogtle nuclear expansion near Waynesboro, Georgia.
Consisting of 157 fuel assemblies with each measuring 14 feet
tall, the fuel will eventually be loaded into the reactor vessels
to support startup once the reactors begin operating. After the
initial fueling, approximately one third of the total fuel
assemblies will be replaced during each refueling outage after the
units begin operating, similar to the process used at existing
Vogtle units 1 & 2.
In addition, workers have successfully installed 10 of the 16
shield building courses of panels that surround the Unit 4
containment vessel. 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.
Vogtle 3 & 4 is currently the largest jobs-producing
construction project in the state of Georgia with more than 9,000 workers currently
on site, and more than 800 permanent jobs available once the units
begin operating.
Significant progress continues to be made at the construction
site, with the project now approximately 84% complete. Follow the
progress being made at the site with the Plant Vogtle 3 & 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 and job
creation. 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,
2019 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 or other
projects, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which includes
components based on new technology that only within the last few
years 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 or vendors;
subcontractor performance; adverse weather conditions; shortages,
delays, increased costs, or inconsistent quality of equipment,
materials, and labor; contractor or supplier delay; delays due to
judicial or regulatory action; 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, for nuclear units, 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 overcome or mitigate
the current challenges at Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 that could
impact the cost and schedule for the project; 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 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; the inherent risks involved
in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities; the
ability of counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as and
when due and to perform as required; the direct or indirect effect
on Georgia Power's business resulting from cyber intrusion or
physical attack and the threat of physical attacks; catastrophic
events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes,
hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events or
other similar occurrences; and the direct or indirect effects on
Georgia Power's business resulting from incidents affecting the
U.S. electric grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or
operation of generating or storage resources. Georgia Power
expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward‐looking
information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power