Georgia has marked a significant milestone in its energy sector with the commissioning of a new nuclear reactor (the second of two new units) at the Vogtle plant, located southeast of Augusta. This event culminates a project that has exceeded both the initial budget and the estimated time, becoming one of the most expensive energy facilities ever built.
About the new nuclear reactor
Georgia Power Co., along with other owners, recently announced that Unit 4 has begun commercial operations, joining Unit 3 that was already in operation since last summer. These two reactors They are the first built in the United States in several decades and they join two other older ones that have been operating at the same site for years.
According to estimates by The Associated Press, the completion of these new Vogtle reactors has cost approximately $31 billion for Georgia Power and its co-owners . Added to this figure are $3.7 billion that Westinghouse, the original contractor, paid to the owners to withdraw from the project, bringing the total cost to close to $35 billion.
The Georgia community has already begun to feel the financial impact, as electric customers have contributed billions to the financing of what could be the most expensive power plant in history . The reactors were originally projected to cost $14 billion and be complete by 2017.
Importance of reactors for the local economy
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and other political supporters have praised the completion of these reactors, highlighting their importance to the reliability and resiliency of the state’s power grid. Chris Womack, CEO of Southern Co., the parent company of Georgia Power, said the new Vogtle reactors will not only strengthen the local economy, but also cement the state’s nuclear leadership globally.
Each of the new reactors has the capacity to power 500,000 homes and businesses sustainably, without emitting carbon . Despite the controversy surrounding the project, even some critics recognize that nuclear power is essential to achieving carbon-free electricity goals. However, Georgia Power and other companies are expected to increase their fossil fuel energy production in the coming years due to an increase in demand, driven in large part by the rise of computer data centers.
This advance in nuclear energy shows the commitment to reducing the carbon footprint and highlights the importance of energy diversification. Learning to balance renewable and non-renewable sources effectively will be crucial to meeting future energy demands and global climate goals.
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Source: independentespanol.com
Photo: shutterstock
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