Southern Co's (SO.N), opens new tab 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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.