[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H2941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       GEORGIA'S BURKE COUNTY LEADING IN AMERICA'S NUCLEAR ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Allen) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Southern 
Company, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power, Dalton Utilities, and all 
partners involved in Plant Vogtle's Unit 4 officially coming online.
  At the heart of Georgia's 12th District in Burke County, we are home 
to Plant Vogtle, where the first two new nuclear reactors to be 
constructed in over three decades in the United States are now fully 
operational, representing a key investment in Georgia's energy future. 
Unit 3 entered commercial operation in July 2023, and now Unit 4 has 
followed suit.
  This historic achievement has been years in the making and proves 
that America can still do big things. Plant Vogtle is now officially 
the largest nuclear power station in the country, and I am proud that 
Georgia's 12th District is a leader in America's nuclear energy future.
  As I have said many times before, an all-of-the-above energy strategy 
is critical to reclaiming American energy dominance, and nuclear--our 
Nation's largest source of clean energy--has a pivotal role to play.
  Throughout the Nation, we have 11,000 utility-scale electric power 
plants currently under operation, less than 60 of which are nuclear 
power plants. Even with such a relatively small footprint, nuclear 
energy accounts for approximately 20 percent of our energy production 
and approximately 50 percent of all emission-free energy generated in 
the country.
  Nuclear power plants can operate 24/7, providing a stable baseload 
supply of electricity. This reliability is crucial for maintaining grid 
stability and ensuring uninterrupted power supply, particularly during 
periods of high demand or adverse weather conditions.
  Since being elected to Congress, I have visited Plant Vogtle on 
numerous occasions to witness various stages of progress throughout the 
Unit 3 and Unit 4 construction process. In fact, I visited there just 
before loading of the fuel and was inside the container right before 
beginning operation of Unit 4.
  Seeing this project come to fruition is nothing short of remarkable. 
Just last week, I was joined by fellow Members of Congress and industry 
leaders in Augusta for an informative panel discussion on the benefits 
of nuclear energy expansion in the U.S., followed by a visit to Plant 
Vogtle to see the new units up and running.
  Plant Vogtle is providing safe, reliable, emission-free energy to 
consumers and businesses across the Peach State and beyond, with each 
of the new units able to produce enough electricity to power an 
estimated 500,000 homes and businesses. It will continue to generate 
power for decades to come.
  This massive accomplishment certainly came with its challenges along 
the way, but as we do in Georgia, we persevered. This historic 
milestone is a major win for all Georgians and America as a whole, and 
I would like to once again congratulate Southern Company, Oglethorpe 
Power, MEAG Power, Dalton Utilities, and all partners involved in this 
tremendous success through their perseverance.
  I look forward to continuing my work on the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee to enact innovative solutions that further bolster America's 
clean energy future. I am proud that our bipartisan nuclear energy 
package will soon be on its way to the President's desk for signature, 
which includes my bill, the Nuclear Licensing Efficiency Act, to reform 
and streamline nuclear licensing and the permitting process.

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