SOJC Southern Co

A report indicates that nearly 190,000 Georgia Power customers were disconnected in 2024 due to inability to pay bills, following record-high rate increases linked to the Vogtle nuclear plant expansion. While Georgia Power denies a direct correlation, the report highlights the company's significant profits and the substantial cost burden placed on ratepayers for the Vogtle project. The article delves into the history, cost overruns, and necessity of the Plant Vogtle expansion, and questions the "clean" energy status of nuclear power due to waste and construction-related emissions.

Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning announced his intention to ask Toshiba Corp. to uphold its commitment to building two nuclear reactors in Georgia. This decision follows the bankruptcy filing of Toshiba's subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric Co., which was the lead contractor for the project. Westinghouse faced significant cost overruns from Southern's Vogtle plant expansion and another project for SCANA Corp.

Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power announced the acquisition of two solar projects in Georgia totaling 99 megawatts from Tradewind Energy, Inc. These projects, the 80-MW Decatur Parkway Solar Project and the 19-MW Decatur County Solar Project, will contribute to Georgia's renewable energy goals. The electricity and associated RECs from the 80-MW facility will be sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Georgia Power, while the 19-MW project has a 20-year PPA, with Southern Power retaining its RECs.

Despite heightened global concerns about nuclear power following Japan's nuclear crisis, the U.S. Southeast remains committed to building new reactors. Utility companies and a largely supportive public in the region are pushing forward with plans for new plants, while environmental activists acknowledge the difficulty of shifting public opinion or halting the projects.

This article provides an update on the progress and challenges related to the instrumentation and control (I&C) design for Vogtle Electric Generating Station Units 3 and 4, the first new nuclear power plant units in the U.S. in decades. It discusses key aspects such as developing a setpoint control program, human factors engineering, addressing electromagnetic interference, integrating cyber security, and managing a growing staff. The author concludes that despite challenges, the goal of safely licensing, constructing, and commissioning these units is very achievable.