Sources: Southern Co., Atlanta; CP staff
Construction is set to begin on the nation’s first two new nuclear units in 30 years at Southern subsidiary Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle, near Waynesboro, Ga. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to approve issuance of the Combined Construction and Operating License for Vogtle units 3 and 4, the first such license ever approved for a U.S. installation. It enables full construction to commence toward Georgia Power’s projected 2016 and 2017 unit start ups.
Lead contractor Shaw Group has deployed two RexCon Model S-RM Central mix batch plants and a fleet of about 15 mixer trucks, performing preliminary work in advance of the volume-heavy, main structures for units 3 & 4. Images Southern has released from the secured Plant Vogtle show extensive slab construction for service buildings, coupled with the installation of 300, 10-ft.-diameter concrete pressure pipe sections for a circulating cooling-water system. Additionally, precast panels have been erected for a mechanically stabilized earth structure encompassing one unit’s “nuclear island,” with reactor vessel, steam generators and support components.
“We are committed to bringing these units online to deliver clean, safe and reliable energy to our customers. The project is on track, and our targets related to cost and schedule are achievable,” said Southern Co. CEO Thomas Fanning, upon the NRC license announcement.
“Our communities and country will benefit from this more than $14 billion investment, representing 4,000 to 5,000 jobs on site during peak construction, and in the process creating over 25,000 direct and indirect jobs by this project alone,” added Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers.