Conservation SouthernStyle Leveraging Our Stewardship Investment Coastal Counties... · part of the company’s culture ... grow. and . evolve – Message in a bottle ... through

Building Partnerships…Empowering Communities…Restoring our Natural Resources Building Partnerships…Empowering Communities…Restoring our Natural Resources

Leslie Montgomery Environmental Stewardship Program Manager

Southern Company

October 28, 2011

[email protected]

Building Partnerships…Empowering Communities…Restoring our Natural Resources

Capa

city

42,962 MW generating capacity

4.7% US electricity market

4.4M retail customers

> 26,000 employees

Busi

ness

es

Retail • AL Power • GA Power • Gulf Power • MS Power

Wholesale • SO Power

Other • SO Nuclear • SouthernLINC • SO Telecom

Serv

ice

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

Man

agem

ent

> 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 NYSE = SO


• 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.

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Environmental stewardship is important to Southern Company and is embedded in our overall business mission. It is one of the tangible ways we demonstrate that we are “bigger than the bottom line” and put into action our commitment to make the Southeast a better place to live.


• Committing to long-term strategic priorities, working collaboratively Partnership

• Setting goals that make a difference, results-oriented Leadership

• Giving employees, stakeholders a seat at the table, empowering communities Engagement

• Identifying successes, as well as opportunities – and raising the bar Measurement

• Proactively, consistently getting the word out, integrating with other efforts Communication


• 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

Removed 11.5 million pounds of debris and trash since 2000


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

• $11.6M to fund programs through 2013 • $1.8M available annually (SO/NFWF)

• Attracting significant federal investment

www.southerncompany.com/corporateresponsibility

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Five Star Restoration is one of the three major environmental stewardship programs supported by Southern Company in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and others. Among our primary partners in Five Star is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Association of Counties and the Wildlife Habitat Council. Our other major conservation programs with NFWF include Power of Flight, which is focused on conserving birds, and Longleaf Legacy, which is helping to restore the longleaf pine ecosystem.

http://www.southerncompany.com/corporateresponsibility�


Photo Courtesy of USFWS

~$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

Southern Co. contributed $1.92M to NFWF to fund Five Star projects (2006-2013)

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

Presenter

Presentation Notes

57 Southern Company Five Star projects have been awarded since 2006 40 different organizations have received Five Star grants: For Profit: 2 Non-profit: 21 School (ie. elementary, high school…): 3 College: 5 Local Government: 8 State Government: 1


Tanner Williams Elementary Rain Garden Project – Mobile, AL

Murphy H.S. Dune Restoration Project – Dauphin Island, AL

• Near Big Creek Lake – City of Mobile’s drinking water source

• Citizen education/demonstration site - bioretention to treat stormwater runoff

• 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

Bennett Bayou Restoration – Moss Point, MS

• CDR Inc (private entity as lead grantee) • Restore inter-tidal oyster reef habitat

and increase awareness of oysters role in maintaining coastal ecosystem health

• LTMCP project at site for Audubon Center • Transition from fill to intertidal marsh by

deconstructing a marina, removing invasives and planting wetland vegetation


Late October – RFP available

November – SO Operating Companies sponsored grant writing seminars (4th, 14th & 15th)

December – NFWF/NACo Applicant Assistance Webinar

February – Applications due (15th); Plaque Recognition Ceremony (Atlanta – for 2010 projects)

Mid-March – Review Team Meeting & Project Site Visits (Atlanta & Rome, GA)

June – Grant awards announced

www.nfwf.org

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

http://www.nfwf.org/�


• Align with critical needs and many interests (look for synergies)

How can you leverage multiple objectives and resources?

• Show how long-term county plans and goals align with corporate interests and have defined timeline

How will you demonstrate mutual goals and a sustained commitment to business partners?

• Address limiting factors (technical, scientific, political, etc.)

How will you ensure your efforts achieve intended results in the long run ?

#1 Think Strategically


• Focus on measurable results and outcomes; make it visible

How can you tell the story?

• Research the business thoroughly; engage business with bottom-line and top line benefits

How can you demonstrate benefits for ALL parties?

• Leverage financial support and credibility with diverse supporters

How can you provide added value?

#2 Make the Business Case


• Critically and objectively evaluate your efforts on a regular basis

How will you define success?

• Let evaluation findings drive innovation; evolve your efforts

How can you raise the bar?

• Connect the dots for people, make it an experience

How can you keep the momentum going?

#3 Continually Adapt

Presenter

Presentation Notes


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

Our Southern Company-NFWF partnership has raised the bar across the board…

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Results include: Diverse groups on same page, working together (SO viewed as ‘objective convener’ for conservation work) Built capacity of communities and grantees (credited for success beyond funding) Applied innovative, best practices to our own work Continual and long-lasting visibility

Documents

Conservation SouthernStyle Leveraging Our Stewardship Investment Coastal Counties... · part of the company’s culture ... grow. and . evolve – Message in a bottle ... through