The latest round of hearings on the nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle, a controversial project in Waynesboro, Georgia, begins Wednesday in Atlanta.
Every six months, Georgia Power gives updates on its progress and makes its case to keep spending money on what is now the only nuclear power construction project in the nation. This time around, the power company is asking the state Public Service Commission to approve nearly $448 million spent last year from July through December.
Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, chairman of the Georgia PSC, said he’s gotten positive reports on progress at the site.
“I’m not saying I’m feeling good because I’ll feel good when it’s complete,” he said.
Georgia Power, which owns about 45 percent of the Vogtle expansion, expects to spend more than $7 billion in capital costs for its part of the project. The total project cost is more than $22 billion – billions of dollars higher than the original budget. It’s about five years behind the initial schedule. Georgia Power says both new nuclear units will be in service by the end of 2022.
