BIRMINGHAM, Ala., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power this week unveiled the new Hatch FLEX Dome storage building at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga. The dome houses portable emergency equipment and adds yet another layer of protection to the robust safety systems for Hatch units 1 and 2. U.S. nuclear plants, including Plant Hatch, are equipped with numerous redundant safety systems to prevent or respond to emergencies, including backup power resources such as DC battery banks and diesel generators.
In response to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi event in Japan, in which that plant lost on-site and off-site power needed to operate its safety cooling systems, industry leaders in the U.S. have worked together to develop flexible, diverse strategies for protecting U.S. plants against such extreme events. These efforts are referred to as the FLEX strategy and include tactics such as FLEX domes.
David Vineyard, site vice president for Plant Hatch units 1 and 2, joined plant employees and Hatch FLEX Dome project leadership for a special event marking the completion of the new facility.
"Safety, and preparation at all levels, is always our top priority at Plant Hatch," said Vineyard. "The dome is the most visible part of the FLEX strategy, but we've also made modifications throughout the plant that further strengthen our ability to protect the health and safety of our workers and the public."
The Hatch FLEX Dome is 39-feet tall, nearly 50 yards wide and features steel-reinforced concrete walls that are 18 inches thick. The building is designed to withstand an earthquake, a direct hit by a tornado, airborne flying objects during a tornado or similar threats. The dome will store portable generators, pumps, communication equipment, refueling equipment, and other resources that might be needed if the power supply to the plant were interrupted for an extended period. The portable equipment would be put into service only in the event other redundant resources at the plant were depleted or damaged.
In addition to Plant Hatch, FLEX domes have been put into place at Southern Company nuclear facilities Plant Vogtle (Georgia) and Plant Farley (Alabama). Learn more about the construction of these facilities and Southern Company's commitment to safety in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Sga8NyZzc
About Southern Nuclear
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is one of the nation's leading nuclear energy facility operators. Producing safe, reliable and environmentally friendly nuclear energy, Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle, which will be the first nuclear units constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear employs more than 3,500 skilled and dedicated professionals who are committed each day to nuclear and personal safety and the health and safety of the public. The company's headquarters is based in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear
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).
About Southern Company
With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear