According to USA TODAY:

 “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the nation's first nuclear power plant in a generation on Thursday, clearing the way for Atlanta-based Southern Co. to build two reactors at its Plant Vogtle site near Augusta.

 The commission approved a license on a 4-1 vote over the objections of environmentalists and the NRC's own chairman, Gregory Jaczko. It's the first approval since 1978, the year before the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania.”

The approval comes on the heels of the NRC approving a new reactor design, the AP1000, back in December.  According to Southern Company, the new AP1000s are better equipped to address issues discovered during Japan’s recent nuclear scare at its Fukushima plants, which sustained massive damage following a 9.0 earthquake and a devastating tsunami.

 Construction of the new reactor is being undertaken by a joint venture of the Shaw Group and Westinghouse Electric Co. 

“Shaw and Westinghouse have been conducting massive pre-construction activity since late 2008, building foundations for some buildings, and piecing together the containment vessel.

Some of the first nuclear tasks include construction of a large crane and moving the nuclear reactor into place, says Paul Bower, president and CEO of Georgia Power, the subsidiary of Southern Power that will own 45.7% of the new units. MEAG Power, Oglethorpe Power and the city of Dalton, Ga., will also have part ownership.

“Now you will see structures coming out of the ground and it will be amazing,” Bowers said during a news conference following the vote on Wed., Feb. 9.  With the COL, Shaw and Westinghouse can lay nuclear rebar and pour nuclear concrete. About 5,000 workers are expected on site during peak construction in late 2013.”

The NRC still has pending applications from SCANA Corp’s South Carolina Gas & Electric, which has applications open to build two new power plants in Jenkinsville, South Carolina.

Additionally, look for various environmental groups and other concerned citizen groups to mount legal challenges to block the new reactor from being built.