For the past five decades, nuclear energy has been a significant part of Georgia’s electricity supply. Two nuclear plants, Plant Hatch near Vidalia and Plant Vogtle near Augusta, currently provide about 25% of the state’s annual electricity. These facilities have operated with an average capacity factor of 94% over the last ten years, indicating consistent full-power performance. Since 1975, Georgia’s nuclear units have produced more than 1.2 billion megawatt hours of net generation.
This year marks several milestones for Georgia’s nuclear power industry. Plant Hatch Unit 1 began commercial operation in December 1975 and is celebrating its 50th year of continuous service. The recent expansion at Plant Vogtle, with Units 3 and 4 now completed, reached its one-year anniversary this spring.
“Nuclear energy serves as the bedrock of our diverse generation fleet, ready and available when we need it, with a stable, predictable cost to operate and no air emissions,” said Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “We’re grateful that, well over 50 years ago, state leaders at that time recognized the value of this energy source and took steps to make sure that a growing Georgia had the energy it needed. Customers today directly benefit from that foresight. Now, as our state continues to be the economic powerhouse of the Southeast, work continues with the Georgia Public Service Commission and many other stakeholders to build on that legacy as we maintain, evolve and expand our diverse generation mix to serve customers today, and 50 years from today.”
Georgia Power is continuing investments in its nuclear facilities by modernizing equipment and exploring options such as extending operating licenses or increasing output where possible. Southern Nuclear operates Plants Hatch and Vogtle for Georgia Power and other co-owners—Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG), and Dalton Utilities—and is known for innovation in safety practices and technology advancements in nuclear operations.
The company was among the first globally to install enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel technologies at Plant Hatch in 2018. This year saw another milestone with higher-uranium-enriched fuel installed at Vogtle Units 1 & 2.
“Our workforce comes from a wide variety of backgrounds, including the nuclear Navy, with each individual dedicated to safely and efficiently operating these nuclear units to serve electric customers across Georgia,” said Pete Sena, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Nuclear. “The nuclear industry represents the best of American energy production, and I couldn’t be more proud to lead this team of highly skilled professionals across Southern Nuclear who work together to drive innovation and performance at our current plants but also as we work together to grow the future of clean energy in this country.”
Southern Nuclear employs more than 2,600 people across both sites; historically these plants have created around 18,000 full-time jobs over several decades.
In addition to employment opportunities provided by Plants Hatch and Vogtle the facilities contribute over $85 million annually in property taxes which supports local infrastructure such as schools and roads.
Plant Hatch was licensed by federal regulators beginning in the mid-1970s; its license was extended by twenty years in 2002. In May 2025 Southern Nuclear filed an application for another extension which would allow continued operation for two more decades.
Plant Vogtle is named after Alvin Vogtle—a World War II veteran who later became CEO of Southern Company—and now houses four operational units following completion last year of Units 3 & 4. With all four reactors online it stands as America’s largest single source generator for clean energy—producing an estimated thirty million megawatt hours per year.
Unit 4 successfully finished its initial refueling outage ahead of schedule through careful planning so it could remain active during periods when electricity demand peaks due to high temperatures.
