Big news for the next generation of American nuclear energy from the DOE Loan Program Office's portfolio! Georgia Power Company has announced that Unit 3 of Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia, has safely reached initial "criticality," which is a key step during the start-up testing sequence and demonstrates that operators have safely started the nuclear reaction inside the reactor.
This latest announcement about Vogtle builds on the recent success of fuel loading and the completion last year of the Unit 3 reactor and demonstrates the project's continued progress toward start-up and commercial operation. The project is now beginning the process of providing electricity to the grid, on the way to the start of commercial operation slated for later this year.
As LPO Director Jigar Shah remarked at Vogtle's fuel-loading, "The United States has been recognized as the leader in advanced nuclear reactor technologies and expertise around the world. ... With projects like the Vogtle nuclear plant, the United States is once again being looked to as an exporter of nuclear technology and leader in achieving our energy, climate, and jobs goals."
With more than 9,000 construction jobs at peak and 800 permanent jobs once the units begin operating, Vogtle is currently the largest jobs-producing construction project in the state of Georgia. With two new nuclear reactors supplementing two existing reactor units at the site and projected to provide more than 17 million megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, Vogtle produces enough reliable electricity to power more than 1.6 million American homes while avoiding nearly 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Once all four units are operating, Plant Vogtle will be the largest clean energy generator in the United States. Learn more about how LPO and Plant Vogtle are shaping the energy transition through nuclear technology.
For information on how LPO could support your advanced nuclear energy project or to engage with LPO staff for pre-application consultations, email LPO@hq.doe.gov. Please provide a brief description of the project, estimated costs and timeline, and location. During the consultations, LPO will work with you to determine whether the project is eligible for a loan or loan guarantee.
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