• The Vogtle power plant is the largest nuclear power plant in america 
• With the recent success of unit 3 of the Vogtle plant, over 500,000 homes and businesses can be powered with clean energy 
• The Vogtle plant is helping with the fight against climate change and is providing numerous jobs for Americans 

The Alvin W. Vogtle electric generating plant, also known as plant Vogtle is a four unit power plant located in Burke county, Georgia. Each unit is a Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR), with a General Electric steam turbine and electric generator. Units 1 and 2 were completed in 1987 and 1989, respectively. Each unit has a gross electricity generation capacity of 1,215 MW, for a combined capacity of 2,430 MW. The twin natural-draft cooling towers are 548 ft (167 m) tall and provide cooling to the plant’s main condensers.  

In 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) renewed the licenses for both units for an additional 20 years to January 16, 2047 for Unit 1, and September 2, 2049 for Unit 2. During the construction of Vogtle’s first two units, capital investment required jumped from an estimated $660 million to $8.87 billion. ($17.1 billion in 2021 dollars)

Georgia Power has recently announced that Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached 100 percent power, marking a major milestone towards commercial operation and service for customers. This milestone marks the maximum energy the unit is licensed to produce in the reactor core and is the first time the unit has reached its expected output of approximately 1,100 electric MW, which can power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses.

Operators are conducting further testing to prove they can run the reactor in ways required for regular operations, Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene in a statement, calling the achievement “an exciting milestone.” 

“It tells us we’re close to finishing the unit safely and bringing it online to power Georgia homes and businesses with reliable, emissions-free energy for decades to come,” she said.

The Vogtle plant is the largest nuclear plant in America. Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are expected to create 9,000 onsite construction jobs during its peak and are expected to support 800 permanent jobs. Upon completion, Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are expected to generate 17,200,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy and prevent 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The Vogtle plant will continue to benefit Americans by providing clean energy and continue to help the fight against climate change by providing this clean energy for decades to come.