1.9 million-pound lower ring placed at Vogtle Unit 4

ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the latest milestone in the expansion of Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia – the placement of the lower ring for Unit 4. The 1.9 million-pound lower ring was lifted into place by the heavy lift derrick, one of the largest cranes in the world, and is the first of three containment vessel rings for Unit 4. 

"Weighing nearly 1,000 tons, the placement of the lower ring for Unit 4 required a tremendous amount of precision and planning to be accomplished safely and correctly," said Mark Rauckhorst, vice president of construction for Vogtle 3 &4.

Other recent milestones for the Vogtle expansion include the receipt of the last major permit needed for the new units, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit; the placement of the concrete "turbine tabletop" for Unit 3 and the placement of the 2.28 million-pound Unit 3 CA01 module.

Follow the Action Click here to watch a time-lapse video of the Unit 4 lower ring placement at the site on Georgia Power's YouTube channel.  

Click here to visit the online Vogtle 3 & 4 photo gallery, updated every month with the latest photos of the project. 

What Vogtle Means to GeorgiaThe expansion at Plant Vogtle is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians. Once units 3 and 4 join the existing two Vogtle units already in operation, Plant Vogtle is expected to generate more electricity than any other U.S. nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear is overseeing construction and will operate the new units on behalf of Georgia Power, which owns 45.7 percent of the facility, and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities.  

About Georgia PowerGeorgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower). 

Video - https://youtu.be/XID0y_9A15Y Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151211/295327 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050216/CLW066LOGO

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SOURCE Georgia Power