The main control room for Georgia Power’s Vogtle Unit 3 is now in operation and testing plant systems, marking another significant milestone at the Vogtle nuclear expansion near Waynesboro, Georgia. Staffing the main control rooms 24/7 year-round for both units 3 & 4 requires approximately 70 highly-trained nuclear operators.
 
From the main control room, operators will monitor and control the technology and equipment essential for testing the unit’s systems and safely starting the plant.
 
“Bringing the Unit 3 main control room online is another major step in the project’s transition from construction to system operations,” said Vogtle 3 & 4 Construction Executive Vice President Glen Chick. “The main control room allows us to conduct systems testing of the unit in preparation for initial start-up.”
 
To begin testing, the main control room has been staffed with highly-trained nuclear operators that have completed multi-year training which culminated with successful completion of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license exam.

During testing, operators will use the main control room to monitor the plant to ensure that systems are operating as designed for the technologically-advanced AP1000 units.
 
Vogtle 3 & 4 is currently the largest jobs-producing construction project in the state of Georgia, with more than 8,000 workers currently on site, and more than 800 permanent jobs available once the units begin operating.