Southern’s Tom Fanning to retire

“I am eternally grateful for my more than four decades of service to Southern Company, customers, communities, and its shareholders and stakeholders,” said Fanning. “I have seen firsthand what this company can accomplish, including putting into service the first new nuclear generation unit in our country in a generation, and I am confident our best chapter is still ahead.”

Testimonials: “Tom Fanning's remarkable leadership has furthered Southern Company’s standing as one of this country’s premier energy companies,” stated David J. Grain, Southern’s lead independent director. “On behalf of the board of directors and the entire company, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Tom for his exceptional contributions. We are confident that Chris, with his proven track record of success and visionary leadership, will guide Southern Company to continued success in the evolving energy landscape.”

In an email to Nuclear Newswire, ANS past president (2021–2022) Steve Nesbit commented, “Under Tom Fanning’s leadership, Southern Company took on many challenges in constructing Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The project exercised a new regulatory framework—10 CFR Part 52—for the first time. The reactor supplier, Westinghouse, filed for bankruptcy in 2017 with the units only partially completed. Thanks to the perseverance of Mr. Fanning and others, Unit 3 entered commercial operation earlier this year and Unit 4 should go on line in 2024. Notwithstanding the delays and cost overruns associated with the project, the reactors are an important addition to clean, reliable, dispatchable electricity generation in the United States. The people of Georgia will realize the benefits of the Vogtle-3 and -4 nuclear power reactors over the coming decades. The nuclear industry owes a major debt of gratitude to Tom Fanning.”