ATLANTA, Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that its Plant Vogtle has been recertified by the Wildlife Habitat Council as part of the national Wildlife at Work program. The program recognizes meaningful wildlife habitat management and conservation education programs by companies. Plant Vogtle, located near Waynesboro, Georgia and operated by Southern Nuclear on behalf of Georgia Power, has maintained this certification since the early 1990s.

"In all of our operations, we are committed to protecting the environment and the state's natural resources," said Dr. Mark Berry, vice president of environmental affairs for Georgia Power.  "This certification recognizes this pledge and the success of our partnership with Southern Nuclear to leverage the land near our plants for wildlife habitat management and other conservation activities."

Partnerships & Programs
A team of employees is tasked with creating and managing wildlife habitats on several thousand acres around Plant Vogtle. The team actively manages approximately 1,000 acres of longleaf pine forest and has an established nest box program for eastern bluebirds, purple martins and wood ducks. In addition, partnerships with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources focus on the reintroduction of the state-threatened sandhills milk-vetch and the relocation and monitoring of species such as the state-threatened southeastern pocket gopher and the federally-threatened gopher tortoise. Through the successful gopher tortoise relocation program, there are currently an estimated 40 gopher tortoises thriving on protected property near Plant Vogtle. 

Vogtle 3 & 4 Nuclear Expansion 
The expansion at Plant Vogtle is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic plan for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians. Once units 3 and 4 join the existing two Vogtle units already in operation, Plant Vogtle is expected to generate more electricity than any other U.S. nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and businesses. Southern Nuclear is overseeing construction and will operate the new units on behalf of Georgia Power, which owns 45.7 percent of the facility, and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. 

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation's largest generators of electricity.  Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.  Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

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SOURCE Georgia Power