The Nuclear Energy Institute awarded Southern Nuclear its Top Industry Practice Award for Plant Farley's cooling tower replacement project in 2004, for Plant Vogtle's safer and more accurate alignment tools in 2005, and Plant Farley's vessel head testing program in 2006. Plants Hatch, Vogtle, and Farley are all certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council for conservation efforts.
Nuclear Power Development
Nuclear power is re-emerging as a viable way to meet our growing demand for electricity with the added benefit of no air emissions, including CO2.
Southern Company is a founding member of NuStart Energy Development, a nuclear technology energy consortium comprised of power generation companies and reactor vendors. The group is pursuing a new combined construction and operating license process and advancing new nuclear technologies. To learn more about NuStart, visit the consortium's web site at www.nustartenergy.com.
Hyperbolic cooling towers frame Plant Vogtle, near Waynesboro, Georgia.
New nuclear power plant designs are safe, efficient, and simpler than current models.
Southern Company is moving to make nuclear energy an option to meet growing demand for electricity in the 2016 timeframe and beyond. The company is considering building two new units at the Plant Vogtle site in Burke County, Ga. Southern Nuclear has filed applications with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an Early Site Permit (ESP) and a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) at Plant Vogtle. The ESP will allow the NRC to review and pre-approve the plant site for construction of new nuclear units and will allow the company to conduct design, construction and other site-specific evaluations before making a decision to build. The COL provides the company with one license to construct and operate a new plant based on an NRC pre-approved design at a specific site. Georgia Power would also need approval of the Georgia Public Service Commission before making a final decision to build the units.
The company has selected the light-water Westinghouse AP1000 technology for potential new units at Plant Vogtle. More than 30 new nuclear plants are under construction in 12 countries around the world – almost all using light-water reactor technology. The AP1000 has received design certification from the NRC. The design is safe, efficient and simpler than current models. To learn more about the AP1000, visit the Westinghouse AP1000 web site at www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com.
In addition, Southern Company continues to evaluate other sites within its service territory for potential new nuclear development. Evaluating these sites is a part of the company's long-range generation planning process to identify the most cost-effective, reliable and environmentally responsible fuel sources.