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