Southern Company has developed many voluntary programs and joined several industry initiatives resulting in reductions, sequestrations, and offsets totaling 140 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Programs include:
- Upgrading nuclear capacity - Plant and transmission line efficiency gains - Biomass use - New combined cycle units - Tree planting (35 million trees planted)
And more, see text below.
Climate
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring atmospheric gas that, along with other greenhouse gases, helps warm the Earth by trapping the sun's infrared radiation. There is concern that human releases of greenhouse gases, including CO2 released from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas, are impacting this natural warming.
While Southern Company encourages additional scientific study, we also support policies to stimulate development of technologies to address the climate change issue. We favor this approach over mandatory caps or taxes, which are likely to raise energy costs and slow economic growth. Consistent with this commitment, Southern Company is engaged in voluntary programs to reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions, and in research initiatives to develop and commercialize large-scale, cost-effective, low-emitting power generation technologies.
Voluntary Initiatives
Department of Energy Climate Challenge and Climate Vision
Since 1994, as a charter member of Climate Challenge, Southern Company has developed many voluntary programs and joined several industry initiatives. We are a leader in Power Partners, the electric utility industry's climate change initiative that pledges additional industry-wide greenhouse gas reduction of 3-5 percent per megawatt-hour of generation by 2010-2012. As of December 31, 2005, Southern Company's reductions, sequestrations, and offsets total 140 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Programs include:
- Upgrading nuclear capacity
- Plant and transmission line efficiency gains
- Biomass use
- New combined cycle units
- Tree planting (35 million trees planted)
Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership
We're working with the Department of Energy and others to evaluate CO2 capture technologies and underground injection sites.
Other Government Initiatives
Southern Company is also a partner in technology-focused programs implemented under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.
Research
Development of Transport Integrated Gasification power plants and new nuclear generation hold promise for electricity generation with lower or no CO2 emissions. more
Sulfur hexafluoride is a greenhouse gas. Southern Company has about 500 transmission substations with 1,740 breakers that use SF6 for its essential insulating properties. In 1999, Southern Company joined a voluntary EPA program to reduce SF6 emissions by better detecting and repairing leaks. By replacing equipment and implementing the program, SF6 emissions have been reduced by more than 80 percent.
Energy Efficiency