LISTEN: The long-anticipated completion of the new nuclear reactor at Vogtle Unit 4 actually occurred a few weeks ago. The public fanfare waited until Wednesday, May 29, 2024. GPB's Grant Blankenship was on hand.

The singing of the national anthem in the air conditioned tent near units 3 and 4 at the start of the celebration Wednesday.
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The singing of the national anthem in an air-conditioned tent near Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 marked the start of the celebration Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

The long-anticipated completion of Plant Vogtle's Unit 4 actually occurred a few weeks ago. The public fanfare waited for a party held in what would have been the shadow of Units 3 and 4 had it not been held so close to noon on a late May day. 

During his remarks, Gov. Brian Kemp credited the promise of a completed Plant Vogtle and the carbon-free power that comes with it being key to landing new electrical mobility industries to the state. 

One of the first questions on their mind is, can we provide them what they need?” Kemp said. "We can confidently answer, yes, because of days like today."

Southern Nuclear Vice President John Williams oversees Vogtle Units 3 and 4 which, respectively, are the first and second AP1000 units in the world. 

Williams said other utility companies, both foreign and domestic, have begun asking him how they could build their own.

They will use the Vogtle design as the template that will be used worldwide, Williams said. 

And, perhaps, in Georgia again. To end his remarks, Kemp told the crowd to get ready to plan for a potential Unit 5.

The control room of the training simulator for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 is seen.
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The control room of the training simulator for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 is seen.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

This is a training phone, but there's a red phone like this in both Plant Vogtle control rooms. Those phones connect directly to federal regulators at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with whom plant operators speak daily.
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This is a training phone, but there's a red phone like this in both Plant Vogtle control rooms. Those phones connect directly to federal regulators at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with whom plant operators speak daily.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

A temporary patio set up for the day in the shadow of one of the new units, left, and its cooling tower.
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A temporary patio was set up for the day in the shadow of one of Plant Vogtle's new units (left) and its cooling tower.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

An military color guard backed by a slideshow of milestones in the construction of units 3 and 4.
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An military color guard stands by a slideshow of milestones in the construction of Plant Vogtle's Units 3 and 4.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle feature a novel safety feature for nuclear reactors. Huge tanks of water atop the units will drop to cool them in an emergency without an operator needing to trigger them.
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Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle feature a novel safety feature for nuclear reactors: Huge tanks of water atop the units will drop to cool them in an emergency without an operator needing to trigger them.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

Water cascades to the bottom of the cooling tower of one of the new Plant Vogtle units.
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Water cascades to the bottom of the cooling tower of one of the new Plant Vogtle units.

Credit: Grant Blankenship/GPB News

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp pose for selfie at Plant Vogtle before Kemp’s remarks at an official ceremony marking the completion of Units 3 and 4.
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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp pose for a selfie at Plant Vogtle before Kemp’s remarks at an official ceremony marking the completion of Units 3 and 4.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

A cake in the shape of the new AP1000 units at the side of the celebratory luncheon for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.
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A cake in the shape of the new AP1000 units sits on a table at the celebratory luncheon for Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News

Plant Vogtle's Units 1 and 2, background, and a new cooling tower, foreground.
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Plant Vogtle's Units 1 and 2 are seen in the distance behind a new cooling tower in the foreground.

Credit: Grant Blankenship / GPB News