May 13 (Reuters) - Utility firm Southern Co ( SO ) said

on Monday insider Pete Sena will be the next CEO of its

subsidiary, Southern Nuclear, after Stephen Kuczynski's

retirement, which is effective June 28.

Southern Nuclear operates eight nuclear energy units in

Alabama and Georgia.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

The unit had recently achieved commercial operation on

Vogtle 3 and 4 nuclear reactors, considered the first

newly-built reactors since Watts Bar Unit 1 which started

operations in 1996.

CONTEXT

President Joe Biden passed the largest climate change

legislation in U.S. history in 2022, meant to touch off a boom

in American clean energy development including nuclear.

Sena became the president of Southern Nuclear in 2023 after

joining in 2019 as executive vice president and chief nuclear

officer (CNO). Before joining Southern Nuclear, he held a number

of leadership positions at First Energy and later Public Service

Enterprise Group ( PEG ) including serving as CNO for both

companies.

KEY QUOTES

"When Sena assumes the additional roles of chairman and CEO,

he will oversee the operation of over 8,400 MW of nuclear power

across Plant Farley in Alabama, and both Plants Hatch and Vogtle

Units 1-4 in Georgia," the company said.

(Reporting by Tanay Dhumal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj

Kalluvila)