1. Cleaner energy
means Cleaner air.
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4

2. Zero greenhoUse gases.
nuclear energy plants release zero greenhouse gases while
producing electricity. a single uranium pellet the size of a pencil
eraser produces as much electricity as 17,000 cubic feet of natural
gas, 1,780 pounds of coal or 149 gallons of oil. nuclear power
plants already provide about 20 percent of the power generated
in georgia. nuclear energy is clean, safe and proven. Through
energy efficiency, conservation, new renewable energy sources,
nuclear energy, and new environmental controls, we can continue
to make our energy supply cleaner and more secure.

3. nUClear ?
Georgia Continues to Grow • Southern Company nuclear power plants
• eorgia is one of the fastest growing states
G operate at high levels of reliability. For the
in the nation and expects to add 4 million new years 2007-2009 the three-year average fleet
residents by 2030. capacity factor was 90.7 percent.
• eorgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, Municipal
G • uclear energy accounts for 75 percent of all
N
Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) and emission-free electricity in the U.S.
Dalton Utilities are adding two additional • ne nuclear power plant provides enough
O
nuclear units at Plant Vogtle to meet customer electricity every day for more than a half-
needs. million homes, while emitting less carbon than
a hybrid automobile.
Safe, Clean, Cost-Effective Power for
Georgia Powering a New Economy and Providing
• uclear energy is cost-competitive, clean and
N Jobs
offers fuel diversity. • $14 billion capital investment in Georgia.
• uclear energy is a proven technology with
N • More than 3,500 jobs during construction.
more than 50 years of safe and reliable opera- • More than 800 permanent jobs.
tion in the U.S.
– 1 –

4. does iT work ?
4
3 1. Fuel-handling area
2. Concrete shield building
3. Steel containment
2 4. Passive containment cooling
1
5 water tank
9 5. Steam generators (2)
8
6. Reactor coolant pumps (4)
7 12
6 7. Reactor vessel
10
8. Integrated head package
9. Pressurizer
10. Main control room
11
steam 11. Feedwater pumps
generator
steam
12. Turbine generator
pressure
turbine
vessel
N
uclear power plants generate electricity using the same
control pump
rods engineering technology as conventional steam plants that burn
reactor
core generator
fossil fuels like coal, oil or natural gas. The difference is the
pump heat source used to make steam. Fuel rods in the reactor core
containment structure
contain uranium pellets. The uranium atoms undergo a chain
Typical Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Design reaction where they split, or fission, creating heat. When water
is pumped around the hot fuel rods, it absorbs this heat. In a
pressurized reactor, like those at Plant Vogtle, this water is kept under high pressure, like a pressure cooker.
This superheated water is sent through tubes in a steam generator where cooler water surrounds it and
boils to steam. The two water sources remain separated from each other; only the heat is transferred.
The steam turns blades on a turbine generator, causing it to spin a magnet inside a coil of wire. The
motion causes electrons to move along the wire in a constant flow called an electric current. Water from
the cooling tower condenses the remaining steam and it flows back to the cooling tower where excess
heat is given off as a mist above the tower.
The new units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle will use Westinghouse Advanced Passive (AP1000) technology.
These units operate using the same basic technology as a traditional nuclear plant; however, the new
units incorporate advancements and improvements in nuclear technology. These units build on proven
nuclear technology, while also incorporating improvements in that technology. These new units will
include passive safety systems that use natural forces like gravity and compressed air instead of active
machinery like pumps or fans.
The new units will be built using modular construction techniques. Many of the parts will be assembled
away from the plant. These parts will be put together in large modules that will be transported to the
plant site and assembled together there. This technique allows more construction activities to be per-
formed in parallel, reducing construction time and cost.
– 2 –

5. are The FaCTs ?
Plant facts and statistics Containment for Units 1 and 2
Vertical cylindrical, post-tensioned
Size of site – 3,150 acres
concrete structure with a dome
Employment for Units 1 and 2: and a flat base. It houses the
approximately 900 reactor, reactor coolant system
Employment for Units 3 and 4: and other Nuclear Steam Supply
approximately 800 System (NSSS) components. The
interior is lined with a carbon steel
Fuel for Units 1 and 2 (17x17 array)
plate. Concrete shields the reactor
Fuel assemblies: 193
and other NSSS components. The
Overall length of fuel assembly:
containment building is 140 feet in
approximately 14 feet
diameter and 226 feet high. There
Fuel rods per assembly: 264
are two containment buildings,
Fuel for Units 3 and 4 (17x17 array) one for each unit.
Fuel assemblies: 157
Overall length of fuel assembly: Containment for Units 3 and 4
approximately 12 feet Location Steel cylindrical vessel houses the
Fuel rods per assembly: 264 In Burke County on the Savannah River reactor, reactor coolant system
near Waynesboro, Ga., and approximately and other Nuclear Steam Supply
Reactor Coolant System for
34 miles southeast of Augusta, Ga. System (NSSS) components. The
Units 1 and 2
vessel is made of 1.6- to 1.8-inch
Four loops, each loop with a reactor Nearest City
thick steel. Concrete shields
coolant pump and steam generator. Waynesboro
the reactor and other NSSS
Operates at a nominal pressure of
Reactors for Units 1 and 2 components and a shield building
2,235 psig (pounds per square inch)
Type: Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) surrounds the containment vessel.
Reactor Coolant System for Rated capacity (size): 1,215 megawatts The containment vessel is 130
Units 3 and 4 per unit feet in diameter and 215 feet
Two loops, each loop with two high. There are two containment
reactor coolant pumps and steam Reactors for Units 3 and 4
vessels, one for each unit.
generator. Operates at a nominal Type: Advanced Passive (AP)
pressure of 2,296 psig (pounds per Rated capacity (size): 1,117 megawatts
square inch) per unit Spray Headers
Owners Nuclear Steam Supply System (Reactor Steel Liner
Containment
Georgia Power – 45.7 percent Manufacturer) for Units 1 and 2
Polar Crane
Oglethorpe Power Corporation – Westinghouse Electric Company
Auxiliary Auxiliary
Cooling Unit
30.0 percent Nuclear Steam Supply System Cooling Unit
Municipal Electric Authority of (Reactor Manufacturer) for Units 3 Containment
Cooling Unit Containment
Georgia – 22.7 percent
130’ Cooling Unit
and 4 Personnel Pressurizer
Missile Shield
Dalton Utilities – 1.6 percent Westinghouse Electric Company Air Lock Steam
Gen. Pressurizer
Steam
Gen.
Operator Turbine Generator Manufacturer for
Southern Nuclear Units 1 and 2
General Electric Reactor
Accumulator
Turbine Generator Manufacturer for Tank
Reactor Pressurizer
Units 3 and 4 Accumulator
Coolant Relief Tank
Pump
Toshiba Tank Nuclear Fuel
– 3 –

6. will iT be bUilT ?
New units are under construction at Plant Vogtle. Construction began in April 2009 and will continue
through 2017. In August 2009, Southern Nuclear received an Early Site Permit (ESP) for the units.
The ESP is one step in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) licensing process for new units.
Completion of the ESP process resolves many site safety and environmental issues and determines the
site is suitable to build a nuclear energy plant.
Southern Nuclear’s ESP was issued with a Limited Work Authorization that allows limited safety
construction to begin prior to receiving a license to construct and operate the plant. Based on the NRC’s
schedule, the company anticipates receiving a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) in
2011. The COL provides one license to both construct and operate the plant. Issuance of the COL clears
the way for all construction activities at the plant.
Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are the U.S. nuclear industry’s reference plant for Westinghouse AP1000
technology. As the reference plant, these units will be the first ones in America to be licensed to oper-
ate using AP1000 technology. Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 will be among the first new nuclear plants
constructed in America in more than 30 years.
The Georgia Public Service Commission approved the project in March 2009.
Southern Nuclear plans for Unit 3 to be operational in 2016 and Unit 4 in 2017.
– 4 –

7. are The owners ?
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation’s largest generators of
electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national aver-
age. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties.
Oglethorpe Power Corporation is a $4.9 billion power supply cooperative serving 38 Electric Membership
Corporations (EMCs) in Georgia. These EMCs provide retail electric service to more than 4.1 million
Georgians throughout the state. Oglethorpe Power is the nation’s largest electric cooperative in terms of
assets, annual kilowatt-hour sales and ultimate consumers served.
The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power), headquartered in Atlanta, is a public genera-
tion and transmission corporation providing power to 49 Georgia communities with annual electric sales
in excess of $721 million and more than 10 million megawatt hours of delivered energy in 2006. MEAG
Power has assets of more than $4.9 billion, co-owns four generating plants with a generating capacity of
1,566 megawatts and has sole ownership of a combined cycle facility with a generating capacity of 503
megawatts.
Dalton Utilities has operated as a public utility since 1889 and provides potable water, electrical, natural
gas and wastewater treatment services to approximately 73,000 customers in the City of Dalton and
portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Catoosa and Floyd counties. In 2003, Dalton Utilities launched
OptiLink and now provides broadband, cable tv, telephone and internet services to residential and busi-
ness customers.
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near
Baxley, Ga., the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala. and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric
Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.
– 5 –

8. http://www.southerncompany.com/nuclearenergy/