ATLANTA, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the completion of another major milestone in the construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 – the placement of the CA-04 module in the Unit 3 nuclear island. The module, also known as the reactor vessel cavity, will house the Unit 3 reactor vessel and is a critical module for the project. It is comprised of five sub-modules, weighing approximately 64,000 pounds, and is 27 feet tall and 21 feet wide. It was lifted into place using a 560-foot tall heavy lift derrick, one of the largest cranes in the world.
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The placement of this component is the latest illustration of the continued progress of the construction of the two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. The new units, using state-of-the-art AP1000 technology, are among the first nuclear units being built in the United States in 30 years.
In November, the project marked another significant milestone with the placement of the basemat structural concrete for the Unit 4 nuclear island. The concrete placement, which encompassed approximately 7,000 cubic yards of concrete, will serve as the foundation for all of the Unit 4 nuclear island structures.
The Vogtle 3 and 4 project is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic vision for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians for decades to come. It is the largest job-producing project in the state, employing approximately 5,000 people during peak construction and creating 800 permanent jobs when the plant begins operating. Over the life of the units, the project will provide $4 billion more in economic value than the next best available option. Once complete, the new facility will produce enough electricity to power 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses. The addition of the new units will also make Plant Vogtle the only four-unit nuclear facility in the country.
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is overseeing construction and will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Georgia Power owns 45.7 percent of the new units.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 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. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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 completion of construction, benefits of ongoing construction projects and job creation. Georgia Power Company 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 Company; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of the Plant Vogtle expansion, to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses, and to satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards; regulatory approvals and actions related to the Plant Vogtle expansion, including Georgia Public Service Commission approvals, Nuclear Regulatory Commission actions, and potential U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantees; the inherent risks involved in operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities, including environmental, health, regulatory, natural disaster, terrorism, and financial risks; and the ability of counterparties of Georgia Power Company to make payments as and when due and to perform as required. Georgia Power Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.
SOURCE Georgia Power