We are meeting our challenge to serve the ever-growing need for electricity while continuing to minimize the impact of electricity production on the environment. We've managed nearly $500 million in research and development over the past decade, seeking innovative ways to improve the generation, delivery, and use of electricity.

We also are developing renewable options to generate electricity with lower emissions and energy efficiency programs to lower demand growth.

Additionally, we foster collaborative partnerships and volunteer organizations to conserve habitat, protect wildlife, recycle materials, provide recreation, and remove trash. We work at all levels, from field offices and power plants up through corporate channels at each of our subsidiaries, on a variety of conservation projects. More in stewardship.

We review our environmental compliance strategy regularly to ensure planned controls and budgets will meet existing and emerging laws and rules, taking into account fuel prices and availability, unit characteristics, and financial impacts. We use our Environmental Management System—formalized in the 1990s with elements from management programs developed by national and international regulatory and standard-making organizations—to stay in compliance with regulations and direct voluntary environmental efforts.

We monitor and assess the environmental impact of our operations to improve our performance. We continually seek opportunities to prevent pollution and conserve natural resources in balance with maintaining reliability and low-cost service to our customers. Southern Company businesses comply with numerous regulations governing its air emissions, including State Implementation Plans developed to ensure compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards; regulations requiring improvements in visibility; as well as the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and other emerging regulations.

MACT Rules

Southern Company's evaluation of how the various federal regulations would impact the company is included in comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed Utility MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology) rule, which targets air emissions. Comments

Environmental Principles

• Communicate transparently
• Commit resources to actualize policy
• Comply with regulations
• Improve continuously
• Research and innovate
• Be stewards of our environment
• Help shape sound public policy
• Be accountable for measured results