Vogtle Nuclear Plant Bill Passes House C'tee

Plant Vogtle. (Courtesy: Nuclear Regulatory Commission)

Legislation that would effectively boost electric rates for thousands of Georgia Power customers beginning in 2011 passed a hurdle in the legislature on Friday.

Senate Bill 31 bill cleared the House Committee on Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications on Friday by voice vote.

The bill passed the state Senate 38-16 on Feb. 11. Click here to read the liveblogging of the Senate debate over the bill.

The bill allows Georgia Power to begin collecting interest costs for its nuclear expansion at Plant Vogtle six years before the new nuclear reactors are set to be completed.

Critics of the nuclear charges bill say the measure is a raw deal for consumers being asked to the foot the bill for the reactors long before they'll see any benefit from them.

Supporters say it will slash some $300 million off the project's estimated $14 billion total price tag, saving consumers money in the long run. Either way electric bills will go up, they argue.

S.B. 31: http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/sb31.htm

(AP)

Click here for previous GPB News coverage of this story.

Plans set for new nuclear reactors in Ga.

Georgia Power says it plans to design and build two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in east Georgia. The state’s largest utility will submit its proposal to the state Public Service Permission and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Both groups must give approval before construction can begin. Plant Vogel is currently home to two nuclear reactors. No new nuclear power plants have been licensed since 1979.

Plant Vogtle hearings on license renewal

One of Georgia’s two nuclear energy plants is looking to continue its operation through the year 2049. Plant Vogtle officials are seeking a license renewal to stay in operation in Waynesboro in east Georgia. Public hearings on the issue were held yesterday. Enviromental groups argued that Vogtle draws-in too much water from the Savannah River, and they worry about potential health threats from radioactive chemicals. A decision is expected in 2009, after an extensive two-year review by federal officials.