The license provides, among other things, that the license is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the. Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 not to proceed with construction and the ability of other Vogtle owners to tender a portion of their ownership interests to Georgia Power following certain construction cost increases; the ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC. Innovation. This means atoms are being split and nuclear. Vogtle Unit 3, the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga. Construction of the plant began in 1968. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Mailing Address Ladies and Gentlemen: Please be advised that the mailing address for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant is 7821 River Road, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830. Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are new Westinghouse AP1000 reactor units with an electric generating capacity of approximately 1,100 MWs each being constructed in Waynesboro, Georgia. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant on Jan. Summer Units 2 and 3 and Georgia’s Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4—the design and construction team. WAYNESBORO, Ga. Plant Vogtle team raises nearly $15,000 in Paceline Bike Ride; Vogtle 1&2. including a multi-faceted approach developed to address future reliability needs associated with. On Thursday, staff for GPSC testified at a public hearing about why they think a completion date between Nov. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant, Jan. Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle. in three decades. X. , the Atlanta-based parent of the Georgia utility, made the announcements as it. Energy Industry. The Southern Company ’s SO wholly-owned subsidiary, Georgia Power, is developing two nuclear units at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in the United. Capitol Beat News Service. Address. The Vogtle expansion is also backed by $8. CEO Tom Fanning said the group continues to stick to its most-recent timeline for startup of…. Southern Nuclear Notifies NRC of Plan to Seek Relicensing at Hatch; Vogtle 3&4. Meanwhile, at Vogtle Unit 4, nuclear operators began hot functional testing last month. announced the first new reactor at its Plant Vogtle could reach full electrical output by Saturday. At peak, Bechtel and. Westinghouse Electric Company today celebrates an important milestone for Southern Nuclear, Georgia Power, and other project partners as Plant Vogtle 3 achieved the initial criticality of self-sustaining nuclear fission. Construction at Plant Vogtle is about 50 percent complete, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Nuclear Power Plant in Decades. See the FAQ page for documentation required to receive per diem. The last nuclear plant to come online before Vogtle's expansion, was TVA's Watts Bar Unit 2, started in the 1970s and brought into operation in 2016. , and the Alvin W. S. May 9, 2022, 3:01PM ANS Nuclear Cafe. Waynesboro, Georgia Energy generation type: Nuclear Jointly owned: Georgia Power (45. Company officials announced Wednesday, May 24, 2023, that Unit 3, one of two new reactors at the site, would reach full power in coming days, after years of delays and. Southern: Vogtle On Track for November 2021 Startup. said Monday, March 6, 2023, a key step toward reaching commercial operation at the first new nuclear. Southern Nuclear to implement next-generation nuclear fuel enhancements; Environment. S. , are shown on July 31, 2023. S. Vogtle’s expansion construction costs are expected to rise to more than $30 billion, up from an initial estimate of $14 billion in 2012. The reactor at Plant Vogtle is the first of two new units at the plant, ultimately capable of powering half a million homes in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. The last nuclear plant to come online before Vogtle's expansion, was TVA's Watts Bar Unit 2, started in the 1970s and brought into operation in 2016. Working for RCC . Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States. Sincerely, Don E. Units 1 and 2 at Plant Vogtle have operated since 1987 and 1989, respectively. , the Municipal. Depending on emergency severity, the on-ATLANTA, Oct. This coverage is made possible through a partnership with Grist and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR station. 17, 2023 – Westinghouse Electric Company congratulates Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear, and other Vogtle project partners, on fuel load for the new Plant Vogtle Unit 4 AP1000® reactor near Waynesboro, GA. The company recently achieved commercial operation on Vogtle Unit 3 and is the. FILE – In this image provided by Georgia Power, the outside of the Unit 3 reactor containment building at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Ga. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. This is the final, major lift for the Unit 4 team and the project at the construction site in Waynesboro, Georgia. (706) 826-3630. My business address is 244 6 Washington Street, S. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant on Jan. Unit 3 has 100. The fuel load process marks a historic and pivotal milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the first new nuclear units to be built in the U. Operating License No. announced this week that the workforce at the $25 billion. Smith called small modular reactors “a. Subsequently, VEGP 3&4 submitted a RIS revision for primary exam dates of 4/11/2016, 10/17/2016 and 9/11/2017. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations. . S. ; the Edwin I. 0:54. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala. owns 30% on behalf of. Vogtle Fun Facts. 302, Vogtle 3&4 Waynesboro, GA 30830 SUBJECT: VOGTLE ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT, UNIT 3 – NRC INITIAL CYBER SECURITY INSPECTION FOR CONSTRUCTION 05200025/2020401 Dear Mr. 7%), Oglethorpe Power Corporation (30%), Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia (22. FEBRUARY 2023. Related: Fuel loading at Plant Vogtle Unit 3 authorized by Nuclear Regulatory Commission Energy costs on the rise: PSC lawyer: Georgia Power poised to seek several rate hikes Plant Vogtle Unit 3 is expected to enter service during the first quarter of 2023. Omaha Public Power District. Vogtle 3 & 4 Georgia Power is constructing the nation’s first new nuclear units in more than 30 years at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. Yox: On October 1, 2020, the U. FILE - Steam rises from the cooling towers of the two original nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle on April 28, 2010, in Waynesboro, Ga. Atomic plant Vogtle, is a 2-unit nuclear power plant located in Burke County, near Waynesboro,. Combined License: Issued - 02/10/2012. ATLANTA, July 31, 2023 / PRNewswire / -- Georgia Power declared today that Plant Vogtle Unit 3 has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers and the State of Georgia. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. In 2017, Georgia Power said the new Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle would come online in November 2021. gov to Stacy Schumann. In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power Co. in more than 30 years. POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE Vogtle Electric Generating. , and when complete would represent the first U. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. 9 billion in. Codadad [en] Stoupakis [en] Shantone [en] Ronken [en] Last updated November 22, 2023. Now Unit 3 is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022 and. ATLANTA – The first of two new nuclear reactors at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle is generating electricity for the first time, the Atlanta-based utility announced during the weekend. 7%) and Dalton Utilities (1. [+] Georgia in USA. According to Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy group, the average residential Georgia Power customer has paid nearly $600 towards Plant Vogtle since 2011. The demand for jobs in the nuclear energy field is expected to only increase. Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are the first U. Georgia Power declared today that Plant Vogtle Unit 3 has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers and the State of Georgia. AllOnGeorgia. Plant Vogtle team raises nearly $15,000 in Paceline Bike Ride; Vogtle 1&2. 31, 2023 at 7:53 AM PDT. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. Grissette DEG/TDI1I/daj cc: Southern Nuclear Operating. Combined License Issued: 02/10/2012. 0:55. NPF–81, for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Unit 2. Operator: Southern Nuclear Operating Co. The six-plus-year delay can largely be attributed to corporate mismanagement by Georgia Power and construction setbacks that also jacked the price tag up to more than double initial estimates – a whopping $30. Located near Waynesboro, Georgia, the Alvin W. (WRDW/WAGT) - The new Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers, Georgia Power said Monday. Three individual Georgiacetus whales were unearthed from 40-million-year-old sediments during the construction of Plant Vogtle. Unit 2 began commercial operation in September 1979. Southern Co. America's first new nuclear investment in 30 years. FILE -- Reactors for Unit 3 and 4 sit at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant on Jan. 453 billion, which. For just the second time in more than 20 years, a new. In Q1 2023, the first of those two units will come online. The first new nuclear. S. — Darrell Proctor is a senior associate editor for POWER. This massive project is spearheaded by. As a result of this, Georgia Power postponed the in. Vogtle Unit 3 (right) and 4. CEO Tom Fanning said the group continues to stick to its most-recent timeline for startup of…. Georgia Power’s 2. Georgia Power Co. Renews at $263. , Ph. Unit 3, one-half of the new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle where the City of Elberton owns vested shares, has reached a key step in its construction status, Georgia Power announced March 6. ATLANTA, May 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached 100 percent power, marking a major milestone towards commercial operation and service for. S. Biden-Harris Administration Announces Agreement to Supply Federal Facilities in Three Southern States with 100% Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity. Listen to this article 2 min. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant Jan. Georgia. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. in more than three decades. Last June, Vogtle project co-owners Oglethorpe Power, which owns a 30% share, and MEAG Power, with a 22. Southern Company. Georgia Power Co. [+] Georgia in USA. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant on Jan. The company currently. Depending on emergency severity, the on-Vogtle nuclear reactor 3. Georgia Power has also reserved the right to place an additional $1. This week he toured the site where Units 3 and 4 are getting close to completion, before sitting. Georgia Power today announced the completion of cold hydro testing for Vogtle Unit 4 at the nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Ga. to settle a lawsuit over cost overruns at the nuclear reactors. Plant Vogtle is an example of how the DOE Loan Programs Office (LPO) is supporting energy infrastructure projects that promote economic growth and strengthen our energy and national security. FILE - Units 3, left, and 4 and their cooling towers stand at Georgia Power Co. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant on Jan. Plant Vogtle) in Burke. Georgia Power today announced that Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached initial criticality. America's newest nuclear reactors will not only provide clean, safe, reliable. FILE - Units 3, left, and 4 and their cooling towers stand at Georgia Power Co. The latest increase in the budget, by the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, wasn’t a surprise after lead owner. Meanwhile, at Vogtle Unit 4, nuclear operators began hot functional testing last month. (SNC, the licensee) to make changes to the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Unit 1 and 2, licensing basis. Georgia Power today announced that Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached initial criticality. nuclear reactors built in decades. The new reactors, each 1,100-MW AP1000 Westinghouse models, will be. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 4. Associated Press. The project involves the construction of two new power-generating units at the facility, Unit 3 and Unit 4. Plant Vogtle Unit 3 and Unit 4 cooling towers (Georgia Power) Maria Gallucci. FILE - Unit 3’s reactor and cooling tower stand at Georgia Power Co. A series of contractor delays, a litany of rework, problems with finishing. Wood duck nest boxes installed by Eagle Scout candidate at Plant Farley; Hatch. Unit 1 began operation in 1987, with Unit 2 coming online in 1989. The first of two new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle near Augusta has reached 100% power for the first time, the company announced, a big step which signals the. by Will Folks March 12, 2023 3. The project involves the construction of two new power-generating units at the facility, Unit 3 and Unit 4. moved to 2024. Units 1 and 2 at Plant Vogtle have operated since 1987 and 1989, respectively. WAYNESBORO, Ga. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga. Plant Vogtle technical staff is always on duty and trained to recognize and . They say Vogtle's Unit 3 is now generating power and Unit 4 should be up and running later this year. a. Construction was completed on the Unit 3 reactor in late 2022, making it the first new facility of its kind in the U. (SNC, the licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License No. Atomic plant Vogtle, is a 2-unit nuclear power plant located in Burke County, near Waynesboro,. Initial criticality means that the nuclear fission reaction in the reactor is now self-sustaining, meaning the reactor can begin producing heat. The company recently achieved commercial operation on Vogtle Unit 3 and is the. The project was initially. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, also known as Plant Vogtle ( / ˈoʊɡ / ), [1] is a four-unit nuclear power plant located in Burke County, near Waynesboro, Georgia, in the southeastern United States . Georgia Power announced Monday that Plant Vogtle’s Unit 3 reactor had reached its maximum energy output, which the utility says can power an estimated 500,000. In addition to ownership in nuclear units Plant Hatch 1 & 2 and Plant Vogtle 1 & 2, MEAG Power owns 22. They’re. the Alvin W. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. By Drew Kann. Once Unit 4 is online, Vogtle's total output will make it the "largest generator of clean energy" in the US, Georgia Power said. 's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant, Jan. Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 deliver on our commitment to safe, clean, reliable, and affordable energy by bringing the next generation of advanced clean energy to Georgia. The opening of units 3 and 4 will make the Vogtle complex, including two existing units, the US’s second-largest power plant by capacity after Washington state’s. April 3, 2023 · 2 min read. March 8, 2023. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Georgia. Georgia Power has announced that the AP1000 - the first new nuclear unit to be built in the USA in more than three decades - has safely reached initial criticality. Jeff Amy. 16, 2023, at 7:53 p. utilities market. , on Monday, July 31, 2023. ATLANTA, Oct. FILE - Nuclear reactors and cooling towers of the four units of Plant Vogtle, a nuclear plant near Waynesboro, Ga. The nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle was originally expected to be completed in 2016 for Unit 3 and 2017 for Unit 4. Unit 1 began commercial operation in December 1975. 7%), Oglethorpe Power (30%), Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (22. The fuel load process marks a historic and pivotal milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the first new nuclear units to be built in the U. Wood duck nest boxes installed by Eagle Scout candidate at Plant Farley; Hatch. The Vogtle-4 diesel generator building in March. A nuclear reactor and two cooling towers are shown at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant Friday. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Plant Vogtle). Georgia Power Co. major new nuclear. Are consumers willing to switch from liquid fuels or natural gas to electricity to meet climate change or other goals?• NNSA Seeks $410M For South Carolina Pit Plant in FY20, Exchange Monitor, Mar 26, 2019 • Energy Secretary Rick Perry talks SRS, pit production following Plant Vogtle event, Aiken Standard, Mar 22, 2019 • U. Southern Nuclear has signed an agreement to load four Lead Test Assemblies (LTAs) with next-generation fuel features into Unit 2 of the Alvin W. S. The Plant Vogtle Units 3&4 project, located in Waynesboro, Georgia, roughly 20 miles south of Augusta, is being constructed under the terms and conditions of the Nuclear Power Construction Labor Agreement (NPCLA). Georgia Power and Oglethorpe Power are among the joint owners of Plant Vogtle. (404) 506-5000. The plant expansion is years behind. via AP/AP. 6, 2023 that it would pay $413 million to co-owner Oglethorpe Power Co. Site Vice President of Alvin W. Plant Vogtle Unit 3 is the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U. Vogtle Unit 3 Enters Commercial Operation: First ‘Newly Constructed’ U. The Energy Education Center at Plant Vogtle is used to host investors, stakeholders, government officials, school groups, churches and the general public. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant is a nuclear power plant in eastern Georgia near the South Carolina border. It's more than half a decade late coming online and has cost billions more than estimated, but Georgia Power's Vogtle Unit 3, the first US nuclear reactor built from scratch this century, has finally come online. Southern Co. Wood duck nest boxes installed by Eagle Scout candidate at Plant Farley; Hatch. For technical questions, contact the individual. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations. Loading fuel marks a pivotal milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the second new unit at Plant Vogtle. 5 billion. 2023: Vogtle's Unit 3 begins generating electricity, with officials saying it may reach full power output by May 27. announced Thursday that the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion project has hit another roadblock, delaying completion of the final reactor into 2023. Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States, and its costs could deter other utilities from building such plants, even though they generate electricity without releasing climate-changing carbon emissions. Plant Vogtle technical staff is always on duty and trained to recognize and address plant problems before they become emergencies . Vogtle is the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States. May 25, 2023. Description: The tour will include a 'Nuclear 101' overview and discussion, and a driving tour of the plant site with one stop at the cooling towers. PO Box 399; Fort Calhoun, NE 68023-0399. S. Project cost: $14 billion (Georgia Power, remainder split between Oglethorpe Power, MEAG and Dalton) The existing reactors at Vogtle, Units 1 & 2, were initially brought online in the late 1980s. Georgia Power reports that Vogtle Unit 3 can power an estimated 500,000 homes and. Vogtle Jr. Latest News: Vogtle Unit 4 starts nuclear fuel load (8/17/2023) Plant Vogtle’s new units were built to power the community, and our community came together in a big way to make it happen. X. Operating License: Issued - 03/16/1987 Renewed License: Issued - 06/03/2009 License Expires - 01/16/2047 Docket Number: 05000424. This means atoms are being split and nuclear heat is. Learn more about the project, its history, and its benefits. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 3. 0:59. AllOnGeorgia. Southern Company’s New Ventures group partners with emerging clean tech companies on decarbonization solutions. , and. FILE - Unit 3’s reactor and cooling tower stand at Georgia Power Co. Chick joined Southern Nuclear in 2018 as project director for Vogtle 3&4. 1. ATLANTA , March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power today announced that Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached initial criticality. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced this week that it completed an investigation at Plant Vogtle Unit 3, concluding that engineers violated protocols in August 2021. Plant Vogtle Unit 3 Connects to the Grid. , Atlanta, Georgia, 30334. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. Georgia Power today announced a revised schedule and cost forecast for the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion project, resulting from productivity challenges and additional time for testing and quality assurance. Nuclear power began flowing onto the JEA grid Monday morning – 15 years after the city-owned utility signed a contract with producer, Plant Vogtle. 1989: Plant Vogtle two reactors are fully online at a cost of $9. Vogtle Unit 3 (right) and 4. 7821 River Rd Waynesboro GA 30830. It would still be beneficial in the long-run to abandon Plant Vogtle and pursue sustainable, clean energy. Southern Nuclear to implement next-generation nuclear fuel enhancements; Environment. 20, 2023, in Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear to implement next-generation nuclear fuel enhancements; Environment. The reactor is an evolutionary improvement over existing reactors, featuring advanced safety systems. Vogtle Unit 3 Enters Commercial Operation: First ‘Newly Constructed’ U. Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, GA, is the site of the first two AP1000® reactors to be built in the U. ; the Edwin I. 7821 River Rd Waynesboro GA 30830. address plant problems before they become emergencies . “The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power’s commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to its 2. Bechtel, the engineering, procurement, and construction company brought in to complete construction on new Units 3 and 4 at the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia, today issued the following statement from Brendan Bechtel, Bechtel Chairman and CEO, marking the start of commercial. S. Georgia Power has announced that the AP1000 - the first new nuclear unit to be built in the USA in more than three decades - has safely reached initial criticality. 7% stake, filed suit against Georgia Power based on an earlier agreement that provided the. S. Bechtel partnered with North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to build Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4. Constellation Energy. Latest News: Vogtle Unit 4 starts nuclear fuel load (8/17/2023) Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 are the first newly constructed nuclear units to be built in the United States in more than 30 years. Schumann@nrc. Coal; Nuclear; Natural Gas; Solar Energy; Hydropower; Wind;. 4. Georgia Power Co. Plant Vogtle has two existing reactors; Unit 1. 444 South 16th Street Mall; Omaha, NE 68102-2247. Company officials announced Wednesday, May 24, 2023, that Unit 3, one of two new reactors at the site, would reach full power in coming days, after years of delays and billions in cost overruns. At peak, Bechtel and NABTU had a combined 9,000 workers on site. Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle are the first new reactors built from scratch in decades in the United States. One of the two long-delayed nuclear units at Plant Vogtle near Augusta successfully generated electricity and connected to the grid for the first time, Georgia. (Photo: Georgia Power) The total bill for the reactor expansion project at the Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia is now expected to exceed $30 billion, according to the Associated Press. 8 billion, with Unit 3 to be completed in April 2016 and Unit 4 in April 2017 but construction delays have pushed out go-live dates for the. Georgia Power. , Inc. Southern CEO: Vogtle Still on Track for 2022-2023 Start. S. Plant Vogtle has two existing reactors, with combined generation capacity of 2,450 MW. The first two reactors have been generating electricity at Vogtle for decades. -based nuclear power plant in seven years. Plant Vogtle unit 3 began delivering commercial electricity to the Georgia power grid, becoming the first nuclear reactor the country has built from scratch in more than three decades. Business Leadership. General Electric Nuclear. Southern says the fourth reactor at Vogtle will reach commercial operation in late 2023, also delayed up to six months. Energy Sources. The in-service date for the second AP1000 plant at the site near Waynesboro, Georgia, has been revised after a motor fault was discovered in a reactor coolant pump. (WRDW/WAGT) - The new Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers, Georgia Power said Monday. Earlier this month, I penned a detailed update on the status of Plant Vogtle (a. ATLANTA – The first of two new nuclear reactors at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle is generating electricity for the first time, the Atlanta-based utility announced during the weekend. October 14, 2022. The generator at Vogtle Unit 3 has generated electricity for the first time, and the unit has successfully synchronized and connected to the electric grid. The first new U. The new unit represents a long-term investment in the state’s clean energy future and will provide reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for decades to come. in more than 30 years and can power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses, according to a news release. 171 Curtner Avenue; San Jose, CA 95125. Reactors number 3 and 4 at Vogtle on the banks of the Savannah River near Waynesboro are more than five years overdue and $14 billion over budget. These two 1,100. nuclear reactor built from scratch in decades has begun generating electricity. Company officials announced Monday, July 31. This follows preliminary tests in March. Combined License Expires: 08/03/2062 (40 years after NRC Commission Finding in 10 CFR 52. Georgiacetus vogtlensis, a species of advanced proto-whale previously unknown to science, was discovered in east Georgia in 1983. is again delaying the projected. Plant Vogtle Unit 3 is the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U. Innovation Vogtle 3 and 4 Clean energy for a bright future Plant Vogtle Nuclear Units 3 and 4 We have a vision of a clean energy future and every day, we put it. However, cost overruns and construction problems have delayed the project. July 31, 2023. Georgia Power’s much-anticipated, long-delayed Plant Vogtle Unit 3 nuclear reactor is finally sending electricity to the grid and serving customers across the state. A nuclear reactor and two cooling towers are shown at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant Friday, Jan. Initial criticality is a key step during the startup testing sequence and demonstrates that -- for the first time -- operators have safely started the nuclear reaction inside the reactor. . announced Thursday, Aug. The hearing was in relation to the 24 Vogtle Construction Monitoring report on Unit 3 and 4 at the plant, which have been significantly delayed. FILE - Unit 3’s reactor and cooling tower stand at Georgia Power Co.