Hello from Plant Vogtle!
 
Joel Leopard
Mike McCracken
Vogtle Energy Education Center Staff

Office - 706-554-9407
Email - veec@southernco.com

 

Plant Vogtle marks 30 years of reliable energy and community impact

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the start of operations of the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Plant Vogtle). Plant Vogtle Units 1 & 2, which began operation in 1987 and 1989 respectively, are capable of generating a total of 2,430 megawatts – enough energy to reliably power more than 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses simultaneously.

Available to meet customer demand 24 hours a day, Plant Vogtle has kept energy flowing in Georgia throughout the past 30 years while:
  • Producing more than 526 million megawatt total hours of emission-free electricity.
  • Preventing millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions from power generation. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), Georgia's nuclear plants prevent more than 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.
  • Stimulating economic growth in the region through contributions of nearly $500 million in local tax revenues.
  • Providing more than 900 high-quality, permanent jobs for East Georgia with more than $1 billion in total wages for employees.
  • Donating at least 20,000 hours of community service to various causes and employee and corporate contributions of more than $4.5 million to United Way of the Central Savannah River Area.
To read more on 30 years of commercial operations at Vogtle, click here.
 
Ensuring reliable electrical energy during hot summer days
 
Most of us just flip on a power switch and a light or electrical device instantly powers up. In fact, we typically take it for granted!
 
But, as you would expect, quite a bit takes place behind the scenes for us to enjoy the benefits of having electrical energy readily available.
 
Keep in mind that electricity generated at power plants typically travels through many miles of wires – at essentially the speed of light – and through several transformers before reaching your light switch. Rather amazing, isn’t it!?
 
And did you know that the electricity we all use originates from a multitude of electricity generating facilities, and that the electrical energy we’re using at any given time is being generated at that very moment?
 
We basically have, at our fingertips, electrical energy available in the wires – we call it the grid – ready for use at a moment’s notice!

For the full story on generating reliable, safe power, click here.

 
Burke County B.R.I.D.G.E. visits Plant Vogtle

Members of B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Responsible Individuals Developing Great Examples) recently took a tour of Plant Vogtle thanks to help from Georgia Power Area Manager Cam Parker and Burke County Commissioner Terri Lodge Kelly.

B.R.I.D.G.E. is a community-driven faith-based program that nurtures character and leadership, academic excellence, sports and social development, and civic engagement and civic responsibility in every individual.

“The students and adults who participated in the B.R.I.D.G.E. visit to Plant Vogtle learned about career opportunities and how their neighbor Plant Vogtle and our hundreds of employees safely and reliably generate electrical energy for all of us 24-hours a day,” said Southern Nuclear Communications Coordinator Mike McCracken.

Pictured, from left, are Torrance Crumbley, Kenya F. Sullivan-Crumbley, Waynesboro City Councilman James “Chick” Jones, Waynesboro City Councilman Brenda Lewis, James Mobley, Demetria Mobley, Tony Wesby, Herman Brown, Reginald Hugh, Zana Wesby, Antonisha Wesby, Toniya D. Wesby, Tamia Hall, Alandria Hall, Samajhe Hall, Trina Acree, Marquella Wynn, Morrell Wynn, Verlantha McCullough, Eziekiel Scott and Tytiana Jones.

 
Nuclear gets a little nutty!
Nuclear in a Nutshell – Economics

It's the second installment of Nuclear in a Nutshell, and it's all about jobs! Did you know that, on average, a nuclear energy facility employs between 400 - 700 full time employees. Plant Vogtle is around 1,000! To learn more, click the link above.

Stay Connected!

There are many ways to keep up-to-date on what's happening with Southern Nuclear and Plant Vogtle, including our Facebook page. Check it out! 

One example of a recent Facebook posting is this photo of the Unit 1 core barrel that we shared during our spring refueling and maintenance outage. What you’re looking at is a fuel assembly being removed from the perspective of the deck surrounding the reactor cavity.

When producing power, Vogtle’s core holds nearly 200 assemblies! Do you remember what the blue glow is called? It’s the Cherenkov effect — named after Pavel Cherenkov, Russian Nobel Prize winning nuclear physicist. The blue glow occurs when a charged particle, such as an electron, travels faster than the speed of light while in water!
 

CLICK HERE to view more photos from the Vogtle 3&4 construction site
Have you ever wondered what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency? Well, we have an awesome calendar that gives you all the information you need. Click the link below for more information.
 
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