ATLANTA, Aug. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power announced today that Southern Nuclear has made significant progress on construction of Vogtle 3 & 4 since assuming project management on behalf of the project co-owners (Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities) from Westinghouse following its bankruptcy in 2017. The company also announced that its revised capital and construction cost forecast for its share of the project has increased from $7.3 billion to $8.4 billion, based on a revised cost-to-complete estimate from Southern Nuclear. The new nuclear units are the first to be built in the United States in a generation and the only new units currently under construction in this country. With projected in-service dates still expected in November 2021 (Unit 3) and November 2022 (Unit 4), the new units will generate enough emission-free electricity to power approximately 500,000 homes and businesses.

July 9 was our first meeting at the Energy Center, the new SCS/SNC offices at the Colonnade.  Our featured speaker was Brad Adams, Southern Nuclear Company’s Vice President of Engineering.  He spoke about “Leveraging Technology to Reduce Risk and Improve Reliability”, describing the nuclear industry’s plant digitalization technology initiatives.

Our Retiree Lifestyle Segment kicked off the meeting with a talk on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) through the University of Alabama, by Glenn Morgan.

Here are some pictures from the meeting and tour of the new Southern Company offices.

July 9 is our first meeting at the Energy Center, the new SCS/SNC offices at the Colonnade.   Please note that the cafeteria will not be available this day so you may wish to eat lunch at Colonnade before our meeting. A group tour of the Energy Center will be available immediately after the program. Address is 3535 Colonnade Parkway, Birmingham AL 35242.  We are meeting in North Tower, 6^th floor, Room 600.  Click here for a map.

Our featured speaker will be Brad Adams, Southern Nuclear Company’s Vice President of Engineering and recognized Industry leader.  He will be speaking on “Leveraging Technology to Reduce Risk and Improve Reliability”, describing the nuclear industry’s plant digitalazation technology initiatives.

Digitalization encompasses a wide variety of remote sensors and monitoring/surveillance devices used to gather data, leveraging connectivity such as Wi-Fi inside the plant.  The “insights” gleaned from analyzing this data enable better operating/maintenance decisions which result in operating efficiencies that lower costs.

For example, Nuclear plant operators are shifting from time-based preventative maintenance towards a more condition-based approach inside the plant. These methods can enhance the performance of nuclear power plants and reduce costs by proactively optimizing performance, reducing outage durations, and hiking return-on-investment for assets.

Changes in nuclear regulations and improved cyber security defenses are needed to fully implement digitalization.  EPRI has risk-informed process pilots underway at Arizona’s Palo Verde and Duke’s Oconee nuclear plants.

Click here for more information on Brad Adams.

Our Retiree Lifestyle Segment kicking off the meeting is a talk on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) through the University of Alabama, from Glenn Morgan. Glenn serves on the OLLI Advisory and Curriculum Committees and focuses on marketing the program.  OLLI offers mature adults an opportunity to take classes (non-academic credit) in a wide variety of subjects.  With courses taught in Greater Birmingham, Gadsden, Pickens County, as well as in Tuscaloosa, OLLI provides mature adults with opportunities to learn new things, make friends, travel and embrace life.  Courses are taught by volunteers who share their knowledge and passions.  Click here for more information on OLLI.

MEETING DETAILS:

When: Monday, July 9, 2018
Where: 3535 Colonnade Parkway, Birmingham, AL – North Tower, 6^th floor, Room 600
Board meeting: Noon
Lunch: Cafeteria is not available for this meeting.  Please eat before arriving for the meeting.
General Meeting: 1 p.m.

We hope to see you there!