Vogtle 2.0

America's largest nuclear plant set to go in Georgia with a $35 billion price tag

After officially adding Units 3 and 4 and putting them online this month, a famous Georgia power plant is now the country's largest nuclear site, at no less than a $35 billion price tag. Run by major utility Georgia Power---specifically its Southern Nuclear division---Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia, features four reactors.

With the recent completion of Units 3 & 4, the first new nuclear units to be constructed in the U.S. in the last 30 years, Plant Vogtle is now considered by some the largest generator of clean energy in the country. That definition depends on how "clean" you consider nuclear power. Most in the industry agree that nuclear power does minimal damage to the environment when maintained properly but comes with a high risk factor.

Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant is one of Georgia Power's two nuclear facilities and one of three nuclear facilities in the Southern Company system. The plant is co-owned by Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Unit 1 began commercial operation in 1987 and Unit 2 in 1989. Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023, and Unit 4 on April 29, 2024.

Plant Vogtle has been a certified wildlife habitat by the Wildlife Habitat Council since 1993. Over 1,700 people including engineers, mechanics, control room operators, chemists, electricians, security officers and others oversee Plant Vogtle’s safe and reliable operations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  

As of October 2025, the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia is fully operational and holds the distinction of being the largest nuclear power plant in the United States, thanks to the addition of Units 3 and 4.

Vogtle is now the only U.S. nuclear facility with four reactors. Units 3 and 4 have entered commercial operation, boosting the plant’s total capacity to 4,536 megawatts. As a fuel innovation, Vogtle Unit 2 is testing higher enriched nuclear fuel (up to 6% uranium-235), part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Accident Tolerant Fuel program. These advanced fuel assemblies are designed to improve safety and efficiency. Georgia Power has proposed power up-rates for Vogtle in its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, aiming to meet growing electricity demand and enhance grid reliability.