Travis Highfield, of the Augusta Chronicle, reports that the nation has its eyes fixed on Plant Vogtle, where contractors are building the first nuclear reactors in more than three decades, and Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers said he is starting to feel the pressure. In a meeting with The Augusta Chronicle editorial board Thursday, Bowers said the country is on the verge of a nuclear renaissance with the construction of Units 3 and 4, and he believes other energy companies are following the developments in Waynesboro, Ga., closely, perhaps to use as a template for future developments elsewhere.
There are 4 nuclear expansion projects underway nationwide including the Vogtle reactors, which are 45.7% owned by Georgia Power. Two more are being built in South Carolina, and companies in Virginia, Florida and North Carolina have announced intentions to undergo the lengthy licensing process, Bowers said. Globally, he estimates there to be 72 projects, mostly in China.
Bowers said the skill set needed to take on projects the size of Unit 3 and 4 has diminished over the past 30 years, but he is starting to see improvements in the quality of the workforce, which is promising for the future projects. Earlier this month, the Vogtle co-owners announced they had settled litigation between the parties and the contractors for the project, which Bowers said has allowed the contractor, Westinghouse Electric Co., to focus fully on construction.
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