BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
Nuclear and Georgia Power this week unveiled the new Hatch FLEX
Dome storage building at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near
Baxley, Ga. The dome houses
portable emergency equipment and adds yet another layer of
protection to the robust safety systems for Hatch units 1 and
2. U.S. nuclear plants, including Plant Hatch, are equipped
with numerous redundant safety systems to prevent or respond to
emergencies, including backup power resources such as DC battery
banks and diesel generators.
In response to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi event in Japan, in which that plant lost on-site and
off-site power needed to operate its safety cooling systems,
industry leaders in the U.S. have worked together to develop
flexible, diverse strategies for protecting U.S. plants against
such extreme events. These efforts are referred to as the FLEX
strategy and include tactics such as FLEX domes.
David Vineyard, site vice
president for Plant Hatch units 1 and 2, joined plant employees and
Hatch FLEX Dome project leadership for a special event marking the
completion of the new facility.
"Safety, and preparation at all levels, is always our top
priority at Plant Hatch," said Vineyard. "The dome is the most
visible part of the FLEX strategy, but we've also made
modifications throughout the plant that further strengthen our
ability to protect the health and safety of our workers and the
public."
The Hatch FLEX Dome is 39-feet tall, nearly 50 yards wide and
features steel-reinforced concrete walls that are 18 inches thick.
The building is designed to withstand an earthquake, a direct hit
by a tornado, airborne flying objects during a tornado or similar
threats. The dome will store portable generators, pumps,
communication equipment, refueling equipment, and other resources
that might be needed if the power supply to the plant were
interrupted for an extended period. The portable equipment would be
put into service only in the event other redundant resources at the
plant were depleted or damaged.
In addition to Plant Hatch, FLEX domes have been put into place
at Southern Company nuclear facilities Plant Vogtle (Georgia) and Plant Farley (Alabama). Learn more about the construction of
these facilities and Southern Company's commitment to safety in
this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Sga8NyZzc
About Southern Nuclear
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary
of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is one of the nation's leading
nuclear energy facility operators. Producing safe, reliable and
environmentally friendly nuclear energy, Southern Nuclear operates
a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W.
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the
licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at
Plant Vogtle, which will be the first nuclear units constructed in
the United States in more than 30
years. Southern Nuclear employs more than 3,500 skilled and
dedicated professionals who are committed each day to nuclear and
personal safety and the health and safety of the public. The
company's headquarters is based in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook:
facebook.com/southernnuclear;
www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear
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).
About Southern Company
With more than 4.5 million
customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating
capacity, Atlanta-based Southern
Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the
Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of
clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company
owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive
generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless
communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy
innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail
electric prices that are below the national average. Southern
Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear
renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units
to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating
their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a
state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been
recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer,
listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a
2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company
received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for
its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light
& Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is
continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual
World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility
rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear