The Hard Parts
Safety
Is it safe?
The AP1000 uses passive safety systems and has operated at Plant Vogtle since 2023. Safety at this site has not yet been analyzed.
What we know
The AP1000 is a pressurized-water reactor. Its safety systems use gravity, natural circulation and condensation rather than pumps and generators. Two AP1000 units have operated at Plant Vogtle in Georgia since 2023 and 2024.
A design that is safe somewhere else is not automatically safe here. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must find this design safe at this site before it could be licensed.
What we don’t know yet
Site safety analyses are not yet done.
Who decides
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
How you can take part
Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meetings and hearings.
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