April 29 (Reuters) - Southern Co's ( SO ) Vogtle unit 4

nuclear reactor has entered commercial operation after years of

running behind schedule, the utility firm's Georgia unit said on

Monday.

The Vogtle two-unit expansion project near Waynesboro,

Georgia has been hailed as a major milestone for the U.S.

nuclear power industry as they are the nation's first

large-scale nuclear reactors in decades. Vogtle unit 3 had

entered commercial operation in July 2023.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

U.S. power consumption is expected to rise to record highs

in 2024 and 2025, according to U.S. Energy Information

Administration, driven by rising demand from artificial

intelligence data centers and electric vehicle usage.

U.S. President Joe Biden has a goal to achieve net-zero

emissions by 2035 in the power sector, the source of a quarter

of the nation's emissions.

CONTEXT

The COP28 environmental conference at the end of last year

aimed to triple nuclear power generation by 2050 compared to the

present capacity as it is viewed as a key tool to reach net-zero

goals.

With all four units now in operation, Vogtle plant is the

largest generator of clean energy in the U.S., according to the

company.

BY THE NUMBERS

When Georgia approved the Vogtle expansion in 2009, the two

reactors were expected to cost about $14 billion and enter

service in 2016 and 2017. However, along with the delays, the

costs have ballooned to $30 billion.

The unit 4 can produce enough electricity to power an

estimated 500,000 homes and businesses and will provide

emissions-free energy to customers for at least 60 to 80 years,

the company said.

KEY QUOTE

"The new Vogtle units are a key piece of our strategy to

meet the energy needs of our customers not only tomorrow, but 20

years from now," said Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene.