04/29/24
For immediate release
Media Contact:
Kay Phillips
Dalton Utilities/OptiLink
kphillips@dutil.com
706-529-1032
Vogtle Unit 4 Enters Commercial Operation
Plant Vogtle now the largest generator of clean energy in U.S.
Dalton – April 29, 2024 – Dalton Utilities, together with Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, and MEAG Power, declared today that Plant Vogtle Unit 4 has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers and the State of Georgia. Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial operation in July of 2023, and now Unit 4, which can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses, will provide reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for 80 years.
With all four units now in operation, Plant Vogtle is the nation’s largest generator of clean energy, expected to produce more than 30 million megawatt hours of electricity each year. Southern Nuclear operates the plant on behalf of the co-owners, including Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power, and Dalton Utilities. Nuclear energy is a crucial piece of Dalton Utilities’ energy portfolio, delivering reliable, efficient, zero-emission baseload energy into the future.
“This is an exciting day for all Georgians as we mark the completion of the nation’s first new nuclear units in decades. The new units at Plant Vogtle will join Georgia’s existing nuclear fleet in delivering sustainable, around-the-clock energy to support our growing economy for generations to come,” stated John Thomas, CEO of Dalton Utilities. “We are thankful for the dedication of our fellow co-owners and the hard work of so many teams that remained committed to this project so that Georgia could pave the way for new nuclear development in America.”
The expansion at Plant Vogtle has not only provided a new source of clean, reliable energy for Georgia but also delivered billions of dollars of positive economic impact for the state and local communities. The construction of the new units has created 800 permanent jobs and employed over 9,000 onsite jobs at the peak of construction, spanning various sectors and benefiting a wide range of professionals.
About Dalton Utilities
Dalton Utilities, in operation as a public utility since 1889, provides potable water, electrical, natural gas and wastewater treatment services to the City of Dalton and portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Catoosa, and Floyd counties. Beginning in 1999, Dalton Utilities branched into telecommunications with broadband services to large industrial/commercial customers. With the 2003 launch of its OptiLink family of services, the company now provides broadband, cable TV, telephone, and internet services to area residents and businesses. Dalton Utilities serves approximately 78,000 customers and employs over 300 area residents. For more information, visit www.dutil.com.
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