Plant Hatch Set To Operate For Another Twenty Years

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Plant Hatch will continue to generate power and employ hundreds of individuals within the region for another twenty years, as Georgia Power announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the subsequent license renewal for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant.

This approval authorizes the Plant to continue operating Unit 1 until 2054, while Unit 2 will continue to provide power until 2058, which will mark around 80 years of operation for each reactor.

The plant, which was the state’s first nuclear power plant and is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the plant on behalf of the co-owners.

It first began producing power in 1975, when Unit 1 began service, as it provided electricity to the state’s 5 million people. Since then, Georgia’s population has more than doubled, as over 11 million people reside in Georgia and are dependent on the electricity generated by Plant Hatch’s two units and Plant Vogtle’s four units, which were built later near Waynesboro. In fact, Nuclear energy from both Plants Hatch and Vogtle provided nearly 30 percent of Georgia Power’s overall energy production last year.

“At Georgia Power, our commitment to our customers is to ensure that the reliable, affordable energy they expect is there when they need it. Our nuclear facilities provide reliable energy around the clock at a stable, predictable cost, and are central to how we deliver on this commitment,” emphasized Georgia Power CEO, Chairman, and President Kim Greene. “I’m proud of the work that happens every day at Plant Hatch, the dedication of the teams onsite, and that all of our customers benefit from the reliability and efficiency of this power plant. This license extension is great news as our state continues to grow and demand for electricity continues to increase.”

Over the last twenty years, numerous improvements have been made to Plant Hatch, as Unit 2’s cooling towers, large transformers, plant service water pumps, feedwater heaters, and more have been replaced. Administrators have also worked to identify and eliminate single point vulnerabilities across the site, ensuring that the Plant operates at the highest safety standard.

The Plant thrives on education and continuous improvement, and even constructed the Plant Hatch Energy Education Center and a second onsite simulator to train reactor operators.

The decision to continue operating the Plant for two more decades comes after a comprehensive safety and environmental review of the plant’s operating performance, aging management programs and compliance with federal regulations, which helped the Commission determine that the Plant could continue to operate safely and in compliance with all applicable standards throughout the subsequent license renewal period.

“The NRC’s approval reflects the strength of our safety culture, the dedication of our workforce and our sustained focus on operational excellence,” remarked Southern Nuclear CEO, Chairman, and President Pete Sena. “Our teams remain committed to operating Plant Hatch reliably for decades to come.”

In addition to providing dependable electricity, Plant Hatch supports hundreds of highly skilled, long-term jobs and contributes to the economies of Appling, Toombs, and surrounding counties with millions of dollars of property taxes paid each year. The plant maintains strong community partnerships, supporting local public schools and technical colleges, STEM programs, the United Way and more. Plant Hatch’s property is also a protected ecosystem with approximately 200 acres having been replanted with native longleaf pine, as well as bluebird and purple martin nesting programs in place, and a special program with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to help protect the red-cockaded woodpecker, a federally endangered species.

For more information about Plant Hatch or about nuclear energy within the state, visit www.GeorgiaPower. com/NuclearEnergy.