After much wringing of hands, (particularly from the media) the Georgia Public Service Commission on Thursday finally voted on whether to continue construction of two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle outside Augusta.
The commission approved construction by the unanimous tune of 5-0, along with a revised schedule and capital cost now set at $7.3 billion. The reactors are set to be completed in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
— Kelly Wiley (@KellyWRDW) December 21, 2017
Governor Nathan Deal, who like many in the state’s political hierarchy has pushed for construction of the nuclear units to continue, praised the PSC’s decision, drawing particular attention to the 6,000 jobs created by the construction.
“I commend the Public Service Commission for its vision and foresight in approving continuation of the Plant Vogtle expansion while holding the owners accountable to ratepayers,” said Deal. “Investing in clean, sustainable energy infrastructure is a worthwhile endeavor that will have a positive economic impact as well. Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 will provide affordable energy to Georgians for more than 60 years while creating 6,000 jobs during project construction and 800 well-paying, permanent ones after. It is important that we stay the course.”
