A new nuclear power reactor in Georgia completed its initial fission tests, becoming the first new commercial nuclear power generator in seven years operating in the United States, the Associated Press reports.
The third reactor at the Plant Vogtle, run by Southern Co. Power, was licensed in 2009. The plant was scheduled to go online in 2016, but construction problems, including a key pipe in the cooling system unexpectedly shaking when the system was originally fired up in January. Having addressed the cooling system problem, operators will slowly ramp up power production over the next two months as crews test systems.
Unit 3 will start generating power for distribution to customers as early as May. Unit 4 is scheduled to be running sometime between November and March 2024. When operating, the two new reactors will generate a net 1,117 MWe each.