You’re probably here because you heard something about a massive power plant expansion or maybe you just saw some giant cooling towers while driving through the Georgia countryside. Honestly, the answer to how many nuclear power plants in ga is a bit of a "trick" question depending on how you count them.
Strictly speaking, Georgia has two nuclear power plants.
But if you’re counting the actual reactors—the giant machines doing the heavy lifting—the number is six. And as of 2026, those six reactors make Georgia the absolute heavyweight champion of nuclear energy in the United States.
The Short Answer for the Skimmers
If you’re in a hurry:
- Plant Vogtle: Located in Waynesboro. It has 4 reactors.
- Plant Hatch: Located in Baxley. It has 2 reactors.
- Total Locations: 2
- Total Reactors: 6
Why Plant Vogtle Is a Massive Deal Right Now
If you’ve been following the news at all over the last decade, you know Plant Vogtle (pronounced "VOH-gel") has been a bit of a drama queen. It was years behind schedule and billions over budget. But here’s the thing: it’s finished.
With the commercial launch of Unit 3 in 2023 and Unit 4 in early 2024, Vogtle officially became the largest nuclear power station in the entire country. We’re talking about a facility that can pump out enough carbon-free electricity to power a million homes and businesses.
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It’s kind of a beast.
Before the expansion, Vogtle just had Units 1 and 2, which have been chugging along since the late 80s. Adding Units 3 and 4 wasn’t just a local project; it was the first time the U.S. built new nuclear reactors from scratch in over thirty years.
The Tech Inside Vogtle
Units 3 and 4 aren’t your grandpa’s reactors. They use something called the Westinghouse AP1000.
Basically, it’s "passive" safety. If everything goes sideways and the power cuts out, the reactor can shut itself down using gravity and natural circulation without any human needing to flip a switch. It’s pretty wild tech that basically makes the old-school "meltdown" scenarios from 70s movies nearly impossible.
Don't Forget About Plant Hatch
While Vogtle gets all the headlines because it’s the shiny new toy, Plant Hatch is the reliable old workhorse.
Located near Baxley, Hatch has been around since 1975. It’s got two Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). It’s smaller than Vogtle, but it still provides about 10% of the state's electricity.
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Interestingly, Southern Nuclear (the company that runs these places) just filed for license renewals for Hatch in 2025. They want to keep these units running for another 20 years. If approved, these reactors could be providing power well into the 2050s.
How Many Nuclear Power Plants in GA vs. The Rest of the Country?
Georgia is in a weirdly elite club. While most states are arguing about whether to keep their old plants open, Georgia just went all-in.
Right now, nuclear energy provides roughly 30-34% of Georgia's total electricity. That is significantly higher than the national average, which usually hovers around 20%.
You might wonder why Georgia doubled down on nuclear when everyone else was building wind farms. Honestly, it’s about "baseload" power. Solar and wind are great, but they don't work at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday when there’s no breeze. Nuclear stays on 24/7.
The Impact on Your Power Bill
I won't lie to you—building these things was expensive. If you live in Georgia, you’ve probably seen a "Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery" fee on your Georgia Power bill for years.
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The silver lining? Now that they are built, the fuel (uranium) is incredibly cheap compared to natural gas. The goal is that these plants will provide stable, predictable pricing for the next 60 to 80 years. In a world where gas prices jump every time there's a conflict overseas, that’s a pretty big deal for the state’s economy.
Surprising Facts About Georgia's Nuclear Footprint
- Wildlife Refuges: Believe it or not, the land around Plant Vogtle is a certified wildlife habitat. It’s full of turkeys, deer, and even some rare plants. Because the actual "footprint" of the reactors is small, the thousands of acres surrounding them are basically untouched wilderness.
- Job Engines: These two plants aren't just about electricity. They employ over 2,600 people directly—engineers, security, chemists, you name it. During the peak of Vogtle’s construction, there were 9,000 people on site. It was basically a small city.
- Tax Revenue: Appling County (where Hatch is) and Burke County (where Vogtle is) basically live off the property taxes from these plants. We're talking $85 million+ a year injected into local schools and roads.
What's Next for Georgia Nuclear?
Is the state done building? Probably not.
In early 2026, Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission have already started talking about "uprates." This is basically a fancy word for "tuning" the existing reactors to squeeze out more power without building new ones. They expect to add another 112 megawatts of capacity just by upgrading the hardware in the existing units between now and 2034.
There is also a lot of buzz about Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are tiny, factory-built reactors that could be placed at old coal plant sites. While nothing is set in stone yet, Georgia is currently the most "nuclear-friendly" state in the US, so don't be surprised if more pop up in the next decade.
Actionable Steps for Georgians
If you’re interested in how this affects your life or just want to see these massive machines for yourself, here is what you can actually do:
- Visit the Energy Education Center: Plant Vogtle has a massive visitor center in Waynesboro. You can’t walk into the reactor (obviously), but they have high-tech exhibits and overlook areas where you can see the cooling towers. It's actually a pretty cool field trip.
- Monitor Your Bill: Check your Georgia Power or Oglethorpe Power statement. Now that Vogtle 4 is fully operational, look for changes in the "fuel cost" vs. "construction" line items.
- Check the Grid: If you’re a data nerd, you can go to the EIA (Energy Information Administration) website and see real-time data on how much of Georgia’s power is coming from nuclear right this second. It’s almost always a steady, flat line.
- Voice Your Opinion: The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) holds regular meetings about future energy plans. If you want more nuclear (or less), that is where the decisions actually happen.
The story of how many nuclear power plants in ga isn't just about a number. It’s about a massive, multi-decade bet that Georgia made on a specific type of technology. While it was a bumpy ride to get here, the state is now sitting on a massive source of carbon-free energy that will likely outlive most of us.
Whether you love the tech or worry about the waste, there’s no denying that Georgia is currently the center of the nuclear universe in America.