Bechtel, the engineering, procurement, and construction company under contract to help complete construction on Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Waynesboro, Georgia, congratulates Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear on achieving commercial operations for Unit 4.
Reflecting on today's milestone, Brendan Bechtel, chairman and CEO of Bechtel, shared the following:
"According to the World Nuclear Association, about 30 countries are considering, planning, or starting nuclear power programs, and 20 more have signaled an interest. 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."
"Plant Vogtle is already moving us in the right direction. It 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, which was hired in 2017 to help complete Vogtle Units 3 and 4, partnered with North America's Building Trades Unions to assemble a team that peaked at over 9,000 workers. This workforce gained specialized skills and hands-on experience transferable to future projects."
Today's milestone also represents an inflection point for the future of the U.S. nuclear industry, Bechtel said.
"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."
