Leslie Montgomery Environmental Stewardship Program Manager Southern Company October 28, 2011 lcmontgo@southernco.com
Capacity 42,962 MW generating capacity 4.7% US electricity market 4.4M retail customers > 26,000 employees NYSE = SO Businesses Retail AL Power GA Power Gulf Power MS Power Wholesale SO Power Other SO Nuclear SouthernLINC SO Telecom Service Area 120,000 sq mi territory 27,000 mi transmission lines 3,400 substations 315,000 acres ROWs > 500 locations 83 facilities Coal, Gas, Hydro, Nuclear, Biomass* Land Management > 200,000 acres lakes > 5,000 mi shoreline ~ 240,000 acres forests > 50,000 acres parks & WMAs Largest private provider of public recreation in AL/GA
Hydroelectricity forged the company s beginnings more than a century ago Ideals of guardianship for the land grew to become part of the company s culture A citizen wherever we serve Preston Arkwright, 1927 (GPC s first President) Southern Style Core Values Unquestionable Superior Total Trust Performance Commitment Environmental Policy (updated 2003) Stewardship Tenet: We will demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve and the environment through education, partnerships and projects that result in conservation, restoration and increased environmental awareness.
Partnership Committing to long-term strategic priorities, working collaboratively Leadership Setting goals that make a difference, results-oriented Engagement Giving employees, stakeholders a seat at the table, empowering communities Measurement Identifying successes, as well as opportunities and raising the bar Communication Proactively, consistently getting the word out, integrating with other efforts
Removed 11.5 million pounds of debris and trash since 2000 Conceived by an employee in Alabama, then spread across the system Grassroots effort with thousands of volunteers Received numerous awards and recognition, locally and nationally Effort continues to grow and evolve Message in a bottle Recycling Alabama Power Water Course exhibit
$11.6M to fund programs through 2013 $1.8M available annually (SO/NFWF) Attracting significant federal investment Power of Flight Bird and habitat conservation and education Longleaf Legacy Ecosystem restoration, carbon sequestration Five Star Restoration Community-based wetland, riparian, coastal restoration 2003 2004 2006 2013 www.southerncompany.com/corporateresponsibility
Southern Co. contributed $1.92M to NFWF to fund Five Star projects (2006-2013) ~$200,000 is available annually for projects within Southern Co. service area: Alabama excluding Lauderdale, Colbert, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Jackson, DeKalb, Cherokee and Cullman Counties Georgia excluding Union, Fannin &Towns Counties Florida Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River Southeast Mississippi 23 counties, from Meridian to the coast, with the west boundary running from Pearl River to Union Counties Since 2006, Southern Co. has Awarded 57 grants to 40 groups, involving 286 + partner entities >546 acres of wetlands and 49,500 ft of riparian buffer restored or streambank stabilized Photo Courtesy of USFWS
Tanner Williams Elementary Rain Garden Project Mobile, AL Near Big Creek Lake City of Mobile s drinking water source Citizen education/demonstration site - bioretention to treat stormwater runoff Murphy H.S. Dune Restoration Project Dauphin Island, AL Pelican Island- Island s South side Establish a dune plant nursery; use plants to stabilize the sand, preventing erosion and creating dune surface area
Oyster Reef Restoration Clam Creek in Jekyll Island, GA CDR Inc (private entity as lead grantee) Restore inter-tidal oyster reef habitat and increase awareness of oysters role in maintaining coastal ecosystem health Bennett Bayou Restoration Moss Point, MS LTMCP project at site for Audubon Center Transition from fill to intertidal marsh by deconstructing a marina, removing invasives and planting wetland vegetation
www.nfwf.org Late October RFP available November SO Operating Companies sponsored grant writing seminars (4 th, 14 th & 15 th ) December NFWF/NACo Applicant Assistance Webinar February Applications due (15 th ); Plaque Recognition Ceremony (Atlanta for 2010 projects) Mid-March Review Team Meeting & Project Site Visits (Atlanta & Rome, GA) June Grant awards announced Five Star Recognition Event -- Oct 2008 Ed Holland, EVP/General Council, Southern Co Frank Sagona, Conasauga River Alliance Mary Wood, Girl Scout Troop 21840 James I. Palmer, EPA R4 Regional Administrator Lynda Hall, EPA Office of Water
#1 Think Strategically How can you leverage multiple objectives and resources? Align with critical needs and many interests (look for synergies) How will you demonstrate mutual goals and a sustained commitment to business partners? Show how long-term county plans and goals align with corporate interests and have defined timeline How will you ensure your efforts achieve intended results in the long run? Address limiting factors (technical, scientific, political, etc.)
#2 Make the Business Case How can you tell the story? Focus on measurable results and outcomes; make it visible How can you demonstrate benefits for ALL parties? Research the business thoroughly; engage business with bottom-line and top line benefits How can you provide added value? Leverage financial support and credibility with diverse supporters
#3 Continually Adapt How will you define success? Critically and objectively evaluate your efforts on a regular basis How can you raise the bar? Let evaluation findings drive innovation; evolve your efforts How can you keep the momentum going? Connect the dots for people, make it an experience
Our Southern Company-NFWF partnership has raised the bar across the board Established strategic program with credible partners Engaged effectively a broad array of stakeholders and interests Addressed expert-identified critical needs using results-oriented approach Demonstrated corporate commitment through employee involvement Made cost-effective investments good returns for all Expanded, learned from and leveraged all partnership aspects