ATLANTA, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the latest permitting milestone for the Vogtle nuclear expansion near Waynesboro – the recent issuance of the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), or water discharge, permit by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).  The water discharge permit is the last major permit needed for the new nuclear units.

Across the state, Georgia Power safely returns nearly 90 percent of the water it withdraws to use in power production to the state's waterways. The NPDES permit authorizes the discharge of clean, recirculated water used in power production back into the Savannah River and sets guidelines for monitoring and reporting. The new units at Plant Vogtle will operate the same way as the existing units by using cooling towers to greatly reduce the volume of water used to operate the plant and provide an additional environmental benefit by regulating the temperature of the water returned to the river.

Watch the Action
The Vogtle project continues to progress and Georgia Power is sharing historic milestones in its 3Q 2015 Vogtle Timeline video. Click here to watch the video on Georgia Power's YouTube channel and witness the completion of the Unit 3 annex building basemat, the placement of the 1,140 ton Unit 3 CA01 module and the placement of the 32 ton Unit 4 CA04 module.

What Vogtle Means to Georgia
The 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 Power
Georgia 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).

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SOURCE Georgia Power