ATLANTA, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power
announced today the latest permitting milestone for the Vogtle
nuclear expansion near Waynesboro
– the recent issuance of the final National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES), or water discharge, permit by the
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). The water
discharge permit is the last major permit needed for the new
nuclear units.
Across the state, Georgia Power safely returns nearly 90 percent
of the water it withdraws to use in power production to the state's
waterways. The NPDES permit authorizes the discharge of clean,
recirculated water used in power production back into the Savannah
River and sets guidelines for monitoring and reporting. The new
units at Plant Vogtle will operate the same way as the existing
units by using cooling towers to greatly reduce the volume of water
used to operate the plant and provide an additional environmental
benefit by regulating the temperature of the water returned to the
river.
Watch the Action
The Vogtle project continues
to progress and Georgia Power is sharing historic milestones in its
3Q 2015 Vogtle Timeline video. Click here to watch the video
on Georgia Power's YouTube channel and witness the completion of
the Unit 3 annex building basemat, the placement of the 1,140 ton
Unit 3 CA01 module and the placement of the 32 ton Unit 4 CA04
module.
What Vogtle Means to Georgia
The expansion at Plant
Vogtle is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for
providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for
Georgians. Once units 3 and 4 join the existing two Vogtle units
already in operation, Plant Vogtle is expected to generate more
electricity than any other U.S. nuclear facility, enough to power
more than one million homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear is
overseeing construction and will operate the new units on behalf of
Georgia Power, which owns 45.7 percent of the facility, and
co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric
Authority of Georgia and Dalton
Utilities.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's
largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability,
Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the
company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of
Georgia's 159 counties. Committed
to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse,
innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal
and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric
and wind. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer
service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall
business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South
by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter
(Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).
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SOURCE Georgia Power