Google Deal Set to Boost Nuclear Capacity at Georgia Power's Vogtle and Hatch Plants

Southern Company's Georgia Power subsidiary has signed an agreement with Google to boost its nuclear generation capacity. The deal, which is subject to approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), aims to increase output from existing facilities through equipment upgrades.

The proposed arrangement would allow Georgia Power to extract more electricity from its Vogtle and Hatch nuclear plants, potentially adding about 96 megawatts of electricity capacity. The work is expected to involve turbines, pumps, motors, and cooling systems, with the goal of improving efficiency and capacity.

Nuclear power has gained attention as utilities seek dependable, carbon-free generation that can operate around the clock. The agreement comes at a time when electricity demand is rising rapidly, driven in part by data centers and other large commercial customers.