Nuclear Tax Credit That Benefits Vogtle Included In Federal Budget Deal

The nuclear production tax credit first passed Congress more than 10 years ago when there were a handful of new nuclear power projects planned in the U.S. Now, Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle is the only nuclear construction in the country – the others have been delayed or canceled.

John Bazemore / Associated Press file

There’s good news for a troubled nuclear power plant in Georgia included in the federal budget agreement that passed Friday.

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The nuclear production tax credit first passed Congress more than 10 years ago when there were a handful of new nuclear power projects planned in the U.S. Now, Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle is the only nuclear construction in the country – the others have been delayed or canceled.

Because construction on the nuclear expansion at Vogtle is years behind schedule, that project was going to miss the deadline to get the tax credits.

The new budget gets rid of that deadline, meaning tax savings for Georgia Power and the other owners of Vogtle. Georgia Power says they’ll be passed on to consumers.

“I’m very pleased that the nuclear production tax credit is included to ensure the Plant Vogtle project stays on track for completion to strengthen America’s energy security and to preserve the more than 6,000 Georgia jobs created by this project,” U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia said in a statement.

Customers of Georgia Power help pay for the project on their monthly bills. It’s billions of dollars over budget.