Contribution of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power contributes slightly more than a fourth of the State's electricity output. If the Vogtle and Hatch plants had not been built, coal-fired power would have been the most likely alternative, adding to the emissions problem.

Southern Nuclear Operating Company presented a plan to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to bring a new reactor on line at the Vogtle site by 2015.^[1] Even with the completion of one or two reactors, coal is likely to furnish most of Georgia's power until at least 2020 (and quite possibly beyond that). Increased diversity in energy supply coupled with decreased emissions rates might make nuclear's contribution especially welcome, not just in Georgia, but throughout the region.

© Georgia Southern Museum (used with permission) When workers began construction of the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant, they already knew they would encounter limestone. But no one anticipated they would also find history: or rather, pre-history. See photo to learn what else they encountered.

Georgia Nuclear Highlights

• The Vogtle Nuclear Plant ranks 35^th on the National Energy Information Center's list of the 100 Largest Utility Plants in the United States. (based on 2003 data).
• Georgia Power, majority owner in the Hatch plant and plurality owner of Vogtle, was ranked as the 11th largest electric utility in the United States in 2003.
• Ten southeastern States have nuclear power plants, but only five have licensed spent fuel storage facilities. These five are: Virginia, Arkansas, North and South Carolina, and Georgia (the Hatch facility).

Georgia Nuclear Industry

As of January 1, 2005, Georgia ranks 9^th among the 31 States with nuclear capacity. Capacity Rankings are available for all 31 States with commercial nuclear industries.

Nuclear Power Generation in Georgia, 1960 through 2004 Million Kilowatt Hours

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms.

License Renewal

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the license renewal applications for Hatch 1 and Hatch 2 were approved on January 15, 2002. The Vogtle licenses will not expire until after 2020.

Information on the current status of all license renewal applications appears on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov. To locate the data, select "index," then select the letter "l" and click on "License Renewal."

The following photo illustrates one of the unexpected finds during construction of the Vogtle nuclear power plant

© Georgia Southern Museum (used with permission) Georgiacetus vogtlensis, the Vogtle whale, is now on permanent display at the Georgia Southern Museum. The creature represents a link between land mammals and whales. The skeleton is 11 feet long, the mount is exactly 8 feet tall, and the skull itself is slightly less than 3 feet long.

Air Quality in Georgia

Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of Georgia ranked 9th highest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in 2004. The State's electric industry ranks 4th highest in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and 12th highest in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions.

Georgia Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (CO2)*

*Carbon Dioxide

Georgia Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (SO2)*

*Sulfur Dioxide

Georgia Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1989-2004 (NOX)*

*Nitrogen Oxide

More Information on Georgia's Nuclear Industry

Nuclear Generation

Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each State for the following years:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

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