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Bechtel, Georgia Power Complete Vogtle 4

[ May 9, 2024   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Bechtel, the engineering, procurement, and construction company under contract to help complete construction on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Waynesboro, Georgia, on April 29 congratulated Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear on achieving commercial operations for Unit 4.
“According to the World Nuclear Association, about 30 countries are considering, planning, or starting nuclear power programs, and 20 more have signaled an interest,” said Brendan Bechtel, chairman and CEO of Bechtel. “At the recent Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels last month, 32 world leaders confirmed their COP 28 climate commitments to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050 in recognition of the technology’s essential role in cutting carbon emissions to near zero. The U.S. should aim for a thriving nuclear industry that provides a competitive alternative for nations in the global market.”
In 2017, Bechtel was brought in by Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear to help bring Vogtle Units 3 and 4 online. With this milestone, Plant Vogtle is the largest generator of clean energy anywhere in the U.S. with each of the new units capable of generating enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses.
Bechtel has completed more than 76,000 megawatts of new nuclear generation capacity and has designed, built, or performed engineering and/or construction services on more than 80 percent of nuclear plants in the United States. Today, the company leads efforts in designing and constructing advanced nuclear plants critical to global efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Plant Vogtle, Bechtel said, “has begun rebuilding the United States’ muscle memory in nuclear construction, including reestablishing critical supply chains. Designing and building a nuclear power plant requires extreme precision, with safety and performance criteria far exceeding those in other types of construction.
Bechtel was hired in 2017 to help complete Vogtle Units 3 and 4, partnered with North America’s Building Trades Unions, assembling a team that peaked at more than 9,000 workers. This workforce gained specialized skills and hands-on experience transferable to future projects.
“Continuing to grow America’s civilian nuclear sector, including investments in both established and next-generation reactor technology, can reestablish the U.S. as the responsible partner of choice for new nuclear energy in the decades ahead. The accomplishment this week at Vogtle brings us closer to that goal,” Bechtel said.
Bechtel serves the energy; infrastructure; manufacturing and technology; mining and metals; and nuclear, security and environmental markets, and its services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations.

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