Plant Vogtle marks 30 years of reliable energy and community impact

ATLANTA, June 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer marks the 30^th anniversary of the start of operations of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Plant Vogtle). Plant Vogtle Units 1 & 2, which began operation in 1987 and 1989 respectively, are capable of generating a total of 2,430 megawatts – enough energy to reliably power more than 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses simultaneously. Approximately 20 percent of Georgia Power's electricity in 2016 was produced by nuclear generation and Georgians across the state have benefitted from the investments made in Plant Vogtle and the state's other nuclear power plant, Plant Hatch. 

Available to meet customer demand 24 hours a day, Plant Vogtle has kept energy flowing in Georgia over the past 30 years while: 

• Producing more than 526 million megawatt total hours of emission-free electricity.
• Preventing millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions from power generation. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Georgia's nuclear plants prevent more than 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.

"As we mark this incredible milestone for Plant Vogtle and its team, we remain focused on supporting our communities and ensuring that we have the most flexible and diverse generation mix in place to serve our customers today and for decades to come," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "A diverse fuel mix, including nuclear, is essential to maintaining a reliable and affordable energy infrastructure that attracts new investment, supports economic growth and creates jobs. Working with the Georgia Public Service Commission through the established Integrated Resource Planning process, we are making the right long-term investments and producing a competitive and sustainable energy environment in our state." 

In addition to power production for the state's electric customers, Plant Vogtle's community impact over the last 30 years includes:

• Stimulation of economic growth in the region through contributions of nearly $500 million in local tax revenues.
• More than 900 high-quality, permanent jobs for East Georgia with more than $1 billionin total wages for employees.
• A focus on community involvement with plant employees donating at least 20,000 hours of community service to various causes and employee and corporate contributions of more than $4.5 million to United Way of the Central Savannah River Area.

About Plant Vogtle
Plant Vogtle sits on a 3,200-acre site along the Savannah River, in Burke County near Waynesboro, Georgia. The plant is operated by Southern Nuclear and jointly owned by Georgia Power (45.7 percent), Oglethorpe Power (30 percent), MEAG Power (22.7 percent) and Dalton Utilities (1.6 percent). In June 2009, Plant Vogtle's operating license was extended for 20 years. Construction of two new nuclear units at the site (Vogtle 3 & 4) is currently underway.

The plant is located in a rural area that supports diverse wildlife and, with management programs that enhance habitat for species such as bluebirds, wood ducks and wild turkey, Plant Vogtle has been a certified Wildlife Habitat Council site since 1993. The plant also currently maintains a Safe Harbor Agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the red cockaded woodpecker, a federal endangered species.

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 2.5 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, 21st century 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).

About Southern Nuclear
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation's nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company's energy portfolio, and its importance will continue to grow as America transitions to a low-carbon energy future. While the company produces clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy, it's also an economic engine powered by quality jobs and community service. Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga.; and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle that are among the first nuclear units being constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear received numerous accolades in 2016 for leadership in the advancement of nuclear energy including the Special Achievement Award by the United States Nuclear Infrastructure Council and the Presidential Citation by the American Nuclear Society. Southern Nuclear also received two of the Nuclear Energy Institute's Top Innovative Practice awards and special recognition for achieving excellence in research and performance. Southern Nuclear's Plant Hatch received the ANS Operations & Power Division's Utility Achievement Award for plant improvements that resulted in a record-setting refueling outage duration. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.

Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plant-vogtle-marks-30-years-of-reliable-energy-and-community-impact-300467616.html

SOURCE Georgia Power