Georgia nuclear power plant cleared for 80-year operating life

Hatch unit 1 began commercial operation in December 1975, with Hatch 2 following in September 1979. The units were originally licensed to operate for 40 years, with the NRC approving a previous 20-year licence extension in 2002. The plant is operated by Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear on behalf of its co-owners Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. 

Over the last 20 years, the Hatch units have undergone major improvements, including the replacement of cooling towers at unit 2; replacement of key components such as large transformers, plant service water pumps, feedwater heaters; and the identification and elimination of single point vulnerabilities across the site. Recent investments have included the construction of an energy education center and a second onsite simulator to train reactor operators: according to Georgia Power, the plant supports hundreds of highly skilled, long-term jobs and contributes millions of dollars of property taxes each year, as well as maintaining strong community partnerships. The plant's property is also a protected ecosystem.

Georgia's population has more than doubled since Hatch unit 1 - the first nuclear power plant in the state - entered service, and now stands at more than 11 million people. Today, nuclear power from Hatch and the four-unit Vogtle plant, built by the same co-owners, provide nearly 30% of Georgia Power's overall energy production. Georgia Power's latest integrated resource plan approved in July 2025, envisages capacity uprates at four of those units, including at Hatch.

"At Georgia Power, our commitment to our customers is to ensure that the reliable, affordable energy they expect is there when they need it. Our nuclear facilities provide reliable energy around the clock at a stable, predictable cost, and are central to how we deliver on this commitment," said Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. 

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its review of the licence renewal application in less than 12 months - it accepted for docketing plant operator Southern Nuclear's application on 20 June last year. This is the second nuclear power plant licence renewal the regulator has completed within the 12-month target for licence renewal reviews under Executive Order 14300: the first was Duke Energy's Robinson nuclear power plant in South Carolina, which received its subsequent licence renewal in April. 

The regulator said it completed its safety and environmental reviews using a streamlined process for licence renewals, applying lessons learned from earlier reviews to work more efficiently without compromising safety standards.

"The NRC continues to demonstrate we can reach timely decisions while maintaining our strict safety oversight," Director of the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Anna Bradford said. "The staff's ability to focus on key factors necessary for long-term plant performance and to implement continuous learning enabled us to efficiently secure another 1.8 gigawatts of power on the grid for 20 more years."

Hatch unit 1 is now licensed to operate until August 2054, and unit 2 to June 2058.