The champagne may have been prematurely popped earlier this week as the co-owners of Plant Vogtle voted on whether to continue with construction as one of them – Oglethorpe Power, had asked for a cap to be put on any future costs.
That ask proved to be a difficult one for the other co-owners, Georgia Power, MEAG, and Dalton Utilities, to stomach, and they asked the Oglethorpe board to return to the drawing board to try and find a solution that didn’t require such a restriction.
Two days of hand-wringing later and Oglethorpe finally got on board, voting to continue construction (sans cap) on the two new nuclear units near Waynesboro, the first of their kind built in the U.S. in 30 years.
The two units are expected to come online in 2021 and 2022, and will generate enough emission free energy to power 500,000 homes and businesses. While the project hit a major snag following the bankruptcy of lead contractor Westinghouse last year, shows of support from both Georgia elected officials and the U.S. Department of Energy have kept the process on track.
Governor Nathan Deal, who has been a staunch advocate for the project since its start, was pleased at today’s news.
“I commend Georgia Power, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Dalton Utilities and Oglethorpe Power Corporation for reaching an agreement to ensure that this critical infrastructure and economic development project will continue,” said Deal. “I appreciate the co-owners of this project honoring their commitments, as our low carbon-free rates allow us to remain competitive in this economic development environment and have helped to make Georgia the No. 1 state in the nation for business for five consecutive years. This project will ensure that Georgia citizens have a long-term, affordable and sustainable energy source, while also creating thousands of jobs. I look forward to the completion of Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 and its continued impact on our economy and infrastructure.”
