Southeastern carpenters are playing a key role for several contractors by helping Georgia Power’s Southern Company build America’s first 21st Century nuclear units at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, GA. Once complete, the Vogtle site will produce enough electricity to power one million Georgia homes and businesses.

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Georgia Power parent Southern Company, is managing construction and will operate the two new 1,117-megawatt units for Georgia Power and the co-owners. Vogtle units 3 and 4 will use Westinghouse Advanced Passive (AP1000) technology, featuring a pressurized water reactor that relies on the natural forces of gravity, natural circulation and compressed gases to keep the core containment from overheating. The system also requires less equipment and staff to operate the plant.

Working first for Shaw/CBI, Stone & Webster and now for Fluor, South Eastern carpenters have worked more than 2.6 million man hours for the prime contractor and 1 million man hours for the sub contractors with zero serious injuries. 2016 is a big year at the jobsite, as planners expect to add 1,000 building trades workers. To date, the South Eastern Carpenters Regional Council (SECRC) has supplied peak manpower of 600 carpenters for the primary contractor and 150 for subcontractors. Their tasks include scaffolding, concrete forms, metal studs and drywall, computer floors, doors and hardware, carpet and VCT flooring, and rigging.

“We require that both new and existing members attain the proper qualifications, including OSHA 10, before reporting to the job site,” said Larry Phillips, executive secretary-treasurer of the SECRC.

Working for construction manager Hamon Custodis, SECRC carpenters are also building cooling towers at Units 3 & 4. By topping Unit 3 at 605 feet with Unit 4 close behind, SECRC carpenters have not experienced any serious accidents and continue to meet the construction needs for this project in a safe and successful manner.

C.A. Murren has also achieved success by partnering with SECRC at Units 3 & 4 with the construction of the hot water intake tunnels for the cooling. C.A. Murren also just launched another project at Plant Vogtle, installing h-beam and lagging.

Allen & Graham, Inc. will build the concrete structure for the water intake facility Building for Units 3 & 4. This $10 million, 18-month project is expected to begin in March 2016.

Vogtle Units 3 & 4 are expected to be placed into service in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The $10 billion building project is employing more than 5,000 construction workers and will support 800 permanent jobs.