Environment

South Carolina Nuclear Plant Scrapped, Leaving Ga. With The Only New Nuclear In US

July 31st, 2017

Georgia is now the only state in the country with a nuclear power plant under construction. A project in South Carolina was suspended Monday, leaving only Georgia Power’s expansion at Plant Vogtle.

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The same company, Westinghouse, was building the nuclear reactors at power plants in South Carolina and Georgia. The projects had been touted as leading a “nuclear renaissance” in the U.S.

Westinghouse went bankrupt earlier this year, citing cost overruns at the projects as part of its problem, and now owners of the South Carolina facility say not finishing the nuclear plant there will save ratepayers billions of dollars.

Georgia regulator Stan Wise said while he’s watching what’s happening in South Carolina, Georgia Power is in a better financial situation with its expansion at Plant Vogtle.

“There’s just a number of factors that would suggest that Plant Vogtle project is in a much better position to move forward than the project in South Carolina,” said Wise, the chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission which oversees Georgia Power’s spending on the nuclear plant expansion.

Georgia Power is continuing construction at Plant Vogtle, as it works on an analysis of how much it’ll cost, and how long it’ll take to complete it without Westinghouse.

“Once Georgia Power’s assessment is completed in August, we will work with the Georgia Public Service Commission to determine the best path forward for Georgia customers,” said Georgia Power spokesman Jacob Hawkins.