Vogtle Electric Generating Plant expansion in Georgia a boon for local economy

As one of the largest construction projects in the nation, with nuclear reactors that have not been built in the U.S. in three decades, the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, near Waynesboro, Georgia, has benefitted Georgia’s job market and economy.

“Once units 3 and 4 are fully functional, it will generate more electricity that any U.S. nuclear facility,” R. Wayne Crockett, District 3 Commissioner at Burke County Government, told Power News Wire. “Each new unit will produce 1,100 megawatts, and each megawatt will provide electricity to between 800 and 1,100 homes, which equals tabout a million homes and businesses.”

Once fully completed, the plant should produce $3 billion in savings for customers.

Crockett said the line actually runs through four counties, about a 55-mile line route that ends in Burke County.

“Each year, Burke County collects property taxes, retains a portion for county operations and disburses the remainder to the state, the school district and fire/emergency management/public safety services to fund their respective operating budgets,” Crockett said.

Georgia Power said that at the height of construction, about 5,000 workers will be needed to complete the two new reactors and lines. About 800 permanent employees also will be needed to maintain and operate the facilities, and jobs will range from administrative to project management to engineering.

The Vogtle Electric Generating Plant is jointly owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. It is one of Georgia Power's two nuclear facilities and is one of three nuclear facilities in the Southern Company system.