Georgia
Utilities begin loading radioactive fuel into a second new reactor at Georgia nuclear plant
ATLANTA (AP) — Workers have begun loading radioactive fuel into a second new nuclear reactor in Georgia, utilities said Thursday, putting the reactor on a path to begin generating electricity in the coming months.
Georgia Power Co. says workers will transfer 157 fuel assemblies into the reactor core at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, in the next few days. There are already three reactors operating at the plant. Two reactors have been operating for decades, while the third reactor entered commercial operation on July 31, becoming the first new nuclear unit built from scratch in the United States in decades.
It’s a key step toward completing the two-reactor project, which is seven years late and $17 billion over budget.
Once fuel is loaded, operators will conduct tests and begin splitting atoms, which creates the high temperatures that boil steam that drives turbines, which generates electricity. The company says unit 4 is supposed to reach commercial operation by March 2024.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruled Unit 4 was ready for fuel in July.
In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power, the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co., currently owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Some Florida and Alabama utilities have also contracted to buy Vogtle’s power.
Currently, the owners are projected to pay $31 billion in capital and financing costs, Associated Press calculations show. Add in $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the Vogtle owners to walk away from building the reactors, and the total nears $35 billion.
Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers are already paying part of the financing cost, as a well as a monthly rate increase of more than $4 for the third reactor, which takes effect with bills this month.
But the elected five-member Georgia Public Service Commission will decide later who pays for the remainder of the costs. Regulators have said loading fuel into the fourth reactor will be the trigger for deciding whether Georgia Power’s spending decisions were prudent.
That process will determine how much the company’s customers will pay for Vogtle, as opposed to whether shareholders absorb additional losses. Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene has said the company hasn’t decided how much it will ask customers to pay. Southern Co. has written off $3.26 billion in Vogtle losses since 2018, suggesting it won’t recoup those costs.
The high construction costs have wiped out any future benefit from low nuclear fuel costs in the future, experts have repeatedly testified.
Commissioners earlier said they would presume $5.7 billion of Georgia’s Power’s spending as prudent. The company is now projected to spend more than $10.5 billion on construction and $3.5 billion on financing.
At its full output of 1,100 megawatts of electricity, each of the two new units will be able to power 500,000 homes and businesses. A number of other utilities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are also receiving the electricity.
Vogtle is important because government officials and some utilities are again looking to nuclear power to alleviate climate change by generating electricity without burning natural gas, coal and oil. But most focus in the U.S. currently is on smaller nuclear reactors, which advocates hope can be built without the cost and schedule overruns that have plagued Vogtle.
Thanksgiving dinner costs are on dropping for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, the cost of buying Thanksgiving dinner has decreased, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Helen, a town in Georgia, has been voted as the top Thanksgiving road trip destination for families in Georgia. Helen has also earned a spot in the top 5 destinations in the country.
This was revealed by a recent survey conducted by Gunther Motor Company. The survey, which polled 3,000 families, aimed to uncover the most sought-after Thanksgiving destinations for a 2024 road trip.
The survey found that families are looking for a quick and memorable road trip that blends the holiday’s festive spirit with a rare moment to relax and recharge.
“The drive to Helen offers plenty of pull-offs and overlooks, especially at spots like Unicoi State Park, where families can stop for hiking or a picnic beside tranquil lakes,” the study wrote. “Helen itself is known for its Bavarian architecture, but nearby towns like Sautee-Nacoochee and Clarkesville provide additional scenic beauty and history.”
What are the top five Thanksgiving destinations in the U.S.?
- Hāna, Maui, Hawaii
- Ducktown, Tennessee
- Helen, Georgia
- Estes Park, Colorado
- Summerhaven, Arizona
What are the other Thanksgiving destinations in Georgia?
- Ranked No. 52: Tallapoosa
- Ranked No. 55: Clayton
Multiple sources are telling us this evening that Georgia Labor Commissioner, Bruce Thompson, has lost his battle with cancer.
I first met Bruce Thompson when he decided to seek the 14th Georgia State Senate District to succeed Barry Loudermilk, which would make him my State Senator. He was straight to the point. No pretense. He knew a lot about what he knew, and wasn’t afraid to say he didn’t know about what he didn’t. I instantly liked him.
Originally from Montana, Bruce wasn’t shy about sharing how Christ had changed his life. He knew that his relationship with The Lord meant that he wasn’t perfect, just forgiven. And he regularly expressed his gratitude for the Grace of his Lord and Savior.
He was a devoted husband and loving father. He leaves behind his wife, Becky, and two adult children, Faith and Max. To meet his children is to understand the man, and he was very proud of them both.
In business, Bruce was a serial entrepreneur. He ran businesses that developed software, installed pool covers, and sold insurance among others. It would not be fair to say that he had the Midas touch because all Midas had to do was touch something to make it turn into gold. No, Bruce was successful because he worked hard to make everything he did a success. In fact, this is a favorite photo I have of him when someone was a no-call-no-showed on one of his work sites. He threw on some old clothes in the Georgia heat and went to work.
A couple of years ago Bruce took a bold step and announce that he was going to challenge a Republican incumbent in Georgia’s Department of Labor. Elected Republicans simply do not challenge other elected incumbents. But it was clear that change was needed at that department as COVID had exposed how bad things could get when an important agency isn’t run well. He came into that office with a sense of urgency those who knew him had come to recognize as a key trait of his personality and work ethic.
Earlier this year Bruce announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And he decided to fight with all of the same spirit and determination that had come to define so much about him. And he did it with an up-beat and positive spirit. Not too long ago I texted him to see how he was doing. He responded, “Just rocking and rolling, brother!!! Jesus is in control, and I have a darn good feeling He isn’t done with me yet!”
As I look at the legacy Bruce leaves behind, those whose lives he made better through service to them, his wife, his kids, I think Jesus is going to continue to be working through Bruce Thompson for quite a while yet. No. Jesus isn’t done with you, Bruce. Not by a long shot. Not even now. Because of what He has done through you.
Farewell, my friend. I am better for having known you.
Georgia
Georgia Tech Football: Yellow Jackets Open as 20.5 Point Underdogs vs Georgia Bulldogs in Rivalry Matchup
After beating NC State on Thursday, Georgia Tech is now 7-4 heading into their Black Friday rivalry showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs. The Yellow Jackets have not beaten Georgia since 2016, but this could be the best chance that they have had to knock off the Bulldogs since then and if they were to win, they would put a big dent in the Bulldogs playoff hopes, though they would still have a chance to win the SEC.
It is going to be a big task for the Yellow Jackets though and at Fanduel Sportsbook, Georgia Tech is a 20.5 point underdog next Friday vs Georgia and the total is set at 54.5.
Georgia Tech played Georgia almost as well as anyone did last year. Georgia won 31-23, but the Yellow Jackets were an onside kick away from getting the ball back and having a chance to tie the game up. In 2022, Key had his alma mater within six points of the No. 1 Bulldogs (13-7) in the middle of the third quarter before Georgia finally pulled away. In each of the past two seasons, Key has had this team playing better against the Bulldogs since the last time the Yellow Jackets won in 2016. In 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021, Georgia handled the Yellow Jackets with ease, but they have had to fight for the past two seasons to put Georgia Tech away.
It will be a tall task though. Despite their losses to Alabama and Ole Miss, Georgia has one of, if not the most talented roster in the country and has not lost a home game since being upset by South Carolina in 2019.
Will Georgia Tech’s two-quarterback system work against the Bulldogs? It worked to perfection against Miami, but not so much against NC State. True freshman Aaron Philo played well and led the game-winning drive, but going into Athens as a true freshman and beating Georgia is a tough ask. Can Georgia Tech run the ball? They were able to overcome a poor performance on the ground last night, but they usually lose when they don’t run the ball well. The defense played great at times last night, but had a really bad fourth quarter and nearly let the game slip away. When Georgia has lost this season, quarterback Carson Beck has been a big reason why. Can Tyler Santucci’s defense force Beck to make mistakes?
They might not be able to beat the Bulldogs in Athens to close the season out, but this is without a doubt the best chance that they have had since they last won the game in 2016. Georgia Tech has relished being in the underdog role with Key at the helm and he is looking to pull off his biggest win yet.
Additional Links:
ACC Power Rankings: Week 14
Updated ACC Recruiting Rankings: Georgia Tech Has a Strong Grip On The No. 2 Class in the Conference
Bleav Georgia Tech: Instant Reaction To Four-Star Safety Tae Harris Flipping From Clemson to Georgia Tech
Vehicle, 2 occupants plunge into crowded Southern California harbor
Detroit People Mover returns to service Wednesday: Holiday schedule, future hours
What channel is Clemson vs San Francisco on today? Time, TV schedule
Texas AG Sues Dallas Over Marijuana Decriminalization Measure
ACC power rankings: CFP hopefuls SMU, Miami, Clemson remain on top after Week 13
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Harris disappears from spotlight, vacations in Hawaii after election loss
Yamandu Orsi wins Uruguay’s run-off presidential election
2 Dartmouth fraternity members and a sorority have been charged in death of a student
Blinken questioned for State Department hosting in-house therapy sessions after Trump win
Voters in Switzerland say no to bigger motorways
-
Business1 week agoColumn: Molly White's message for journalists going freelance — be ready for the pitfalls
-
Science5 days agoTrump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on 'illness industrial complex'
-
Politics1 week agoTrump taps FCC member Brendan Carr to lead agency: 'Warrior for Free Speech'
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
Technology7 days agoInside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI
-
Lifestyle1 week agoSome in the U.S. farm industry are alarmed by Trump's embrace of RFK Jr. and tariffs
-
World1 week agoProtesters in Slovakia rally against Robert Fico’s populist government
-
News1 week agoThey disagree about a lot, but these singers figure out how to stay in harmony
-
News1 week agoGaetz-gate: Navigating the President-elect's most baffling Cabinet pick