ATLANTA, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is continuing a proud tradition of employing veterans in key roles, as nearly 40 percent of the workforce at the Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 construction site near Waynesboro, Ga., served as members of the U.S. armed services.

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The company anticipates the number of veteran workers will increase as construction continues. Approximately 2,300 workers are on site now. Overall, about 10 percent of Georgia Power's work force served in the U.S. armed services.

"Veterans continue to be strong candidates for jobs on the Vogtle 3 and 4 project, as the cultures of the military and the utility industry are very similar in their attention to detail and safety," said Joseph "Buzz" Miller, executive vice president of nuclear development for Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear.  "We work with Veterans Affairs, local bases and state employment offices in Georgia to reach out to veterans."

The company recruits workers locally, regionally and nationally, building awareness of current and future jobs at Plant Vogtle. It partners with military-service organizations, recruits at military bases and veteran career fairs and builds awareness nationally through advertisements.

The company also participates in the utility industry's Troops to Energy Job's program in hopes of bridging the gap between military and civilian careers in utility.

The construction of Vogtle 3 and 4 is the largest job-producing project in Georgia, employing approximately 5,000 people during peak construction and creating 800 permanent jobs when the plant begins operating. Once completed, the new facility will produce enough electricity to power 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses.

The facility provides at least $2.2 billion more value to customers than the next best available technology, including natural gas generation, according to PSC staff. Georgia Power is in position to provide customers with up to $2 billion in potential benefits in the form of savings related to recovering financing costs during construction, DOE loan guarantee, production tax credits, lower-than-forecast interest rates and lower-than-forecast commodity costs.

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is overseeing construction and will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Georgia Power owns 45.7 percent of the new units, with a certified cost of $6.1 billion.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

http://www.georgiapower.com/

SOURCE Georgia Power