Overview of Natural Resources Management
At Southern Company, our Natural Resources Management program spans land, water, and the biodiversity in our service territory. Through this program, we strive to meet all environmental laws and regulations, and implement the mitigation hierarchy. In the United States, the key environmental laws guiding natural resource compliance for electric and gas utilities include the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition, the states where we operate have their own laws and regulations, which may have more stringent requirements.
Natural Resources Governance
Southern Company has established a formal governance structure for environmental compliance as part of our Environmental Management System Framework and Policy. The Environmental Management Council (EMC) serves as the highest point of governance for the system’s environmental management and compliance program activities across air and climate, waste, and natural resources. As part of our enterprise risk management framework, governance teams for these areas assess risks and mitigation strategies annually and throughout the year.
Specific to natural resources, the EMC is responsible for recommending mitigation strategies for key environmental compliance risks and issues, including advocacy and communication strategies. The EMC also develops and implements policies, protocols, guidelines and procedures, including our Environmental Principles and Biodiversity Principles. Certain issues discussed by the EMC may be raised at the Southern Company Board of Directors’ meetings, primarily through the Board’s Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee. The Natural Resources Governance Team, which reports to the EMC, assesses risks and seeks opportunities to minimize the impact of operations on biodiversity, including protecting at-risk and endangered species.
Mitigation Hierarchy
Southern Company is a leading energy provider, serving nine million customers through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a wholesale energy provider and leading distributed energy infrastructure company serving customers across the country, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. As such, we serve customers within or near biodiversity sensitive areas as defined by the USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US).
By complying with wildlife and natural resource regulations, and implementing the mitigation hierarchy system, we strive to limit our impacts on biodiversity. The mitigation hierarchy, as shown below, guides actions throughout the lifespan of a project.
Conservation Initiatives to Support Compliance
Southern Company subsidiaries also partner with state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations to implement conservation measures for the land, water, and biodiversity within our service territory.
Downlisting of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Through public-private partnerships, Southern Company and its subsidiaries Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, and Virginia Natural Gas, have contributed to conservation efforts in support of the red-cockaded woodpecker, which has been downlisted from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. These initiatives include installation of artificial nest cavity inserts and prescribed, controlled burns to allow for the growth of new longleaf pines, as well as voluntary conservation grant funding to preserve the mature longleaf pine habitat on which the red-cockaded woodpecker depends.
Initiatives Across Our Footprint
January 7th, 2026
Alabama Power protects rare white fringeless orchid on transmission rights of way
Alabama Power has taken measures to protect the white fringeless orchid, a federally protected plant, found in four wetlands in the company’s transmission rights of way.
July 22, 2024
Southern Power recognized as a 2023 recipient of the Game and Fish Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is proud to announce renewable energy companies Qcells and Southern Power as the 2023 Industry Wildlife Stewardship Award recipients. The award honors companies whose primary mission is not wildlife-related, but choose to go above and beyond the baseline regulatory requirements in a collaborative manner with the department.
February 25th, 2025
Georgia Power partnered to create a tool to minimize the impact of new solar facilities on biodiversity
Georgia Power partnered with federal, state and non-profit organizations to develop the Georgia Utility Scale Solar Siting Initiative Tool, an early screening tool to support siting of large-scale solar facilities.
March 9th, 2026
Georgia Power awarded 2026 Forestry for Wildlife Partner
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recognized Georgia Power as a 2026 Forestry for Wildlife Partner, along with three other corporate leaders. The voluntary, non-competitive and participant-driven program promotes enhanced wildlife conservation on the holdings of large landowners, helps deliver wildlife technical assistance, training and outreach, and recognizes partners for their wildlife conservation achievements.
May 10th, 2023
Mississippi Power celebrated a decade of partnership with Wild at Heart Rescue
Mississippi Power celebrated a decade of partnership with Wild at Heart to rehabilitate injured birds throughout the service territory, supporting the company’s Avian Protection Plan.
