Southern Company Energy Technology Leadership Recognized With Excellence Award For Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project

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Sep 21, 2012, 09:00 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company's demonstration of innovative technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants was recognized today with an Industry Excellence Award from the Savannah Ocean Exchange.

The award was presented in Savannah, Ga., at the Savannah Ocean Exchange's second annual Solutions Exchange. The award honors corporations and organizations that are implementing tangible solutions that shape the future today by generating economic growth and increasing productivity while reducing waste and the use of natural resources.

Southern Company won the award for a project that is capturing carbon dioxide from Plant Barry near Mobile, Ala., in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and others.

The captured carbon dioxide is being supplied to the U.S. Department of Energy's Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, which is transporting the compressed flue gas by pipeline to the Citronelle Oil Field, operated by Denbury Resources about 11 miles from the plant, to be permanently and safely stored in a deep saline geologic formation.

The overall project represents the world's largest power plant demonstration of start-to-finish carbon capture and storage technology.

"Energy innovation projects like this are critical to providing real, meaningful solutions for America's energy future," said Chris Hobson, Southern Company senior vice president for research and environmental affairs and chief environmental officer. "The leadership in energy technology that has been recognized by this award advances the notion that a healthy environment and robust domestic energy policy can coexist."

Since June 2011, Southern Company and its project partners have captured 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide from Plant Barry, which is owned and operated by Southern Company subsidiary Alabama Power, using the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. technology KM-CDR™.

The Plant Barry project is part of an extensive energy innovation program that supports Southern Company's industry leadership in proprietary research and development.

Founded in 2010, Savannah Ocean Exchange unites international organizations across multiple disciplines and boundaries to distribute and adopt solutions that positively impact the ocean, economies and health. The 2012 Board of Governors includes 31 thought leaders from around the world who represent diverse backgrounds and expertise; share a commitment to innovation and the protection of the ocean and the enhancement and advancement of solutions that will create new industries, expand job opportunities and recharge economies.

With 4.4 million customers and more than 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company also is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

Media Contact: Southern Company Media Relations
404-506-5333 or 866-506-5333
www.southerncompany.com

SOURCE Southern Company