ATLANTA, April 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power is celebrating Earth Month this year with environmental service projects that enhance and beautify communities across the state. Throughout the year, employees focus on stewardship projects that protect and enhance the communities in which they live and work. In honor of Earth Month this April, hundreds of employees are taking part in dozens of local events working together with neighbors and community partners.

Just a few of the projects around the state taking place on Earth Day include:

• Bat House and Birdhouse Build – Georgia Power employees in Atlanta will spend the day building bat houses and birdhouses that will be donated to community non-profits across the state.
• Garden Expansion at Murphy-Harpst Children Center – Georgia Power employees at Plant Bowen in Bartow County will spend the day planting vegetable and herb gardens, as well as plants, bushes and flowers.
• Pollinator Pathway Gardens – Georgia Power employees in Tifton will spend the day planting bee gardens to attract pollinators that will ultimately fertilize plants, resulting in the formation of fruit seeds.
• Proctor Creek Cleanup – Georgia Power employees will spend the day collecting trash at Proctor Creek at Lindsay Street Park in Atlanta.

Additionally, employees completed environmental projects earlier this month including:

• Lake Jackson Cleanup - Georgia Power Department of Environmental and Natural Resources spent the day at Lake Jackson in Butts County collecting trash, planting flowers, placing bat houses and creating a butterfly meadow.
• Nest and Atlanta Habitat Smart Home Build – Georgia Power partnered with Nest and Atlanta Habitat for Humanity to build the first smart energy home in the city.

"Our Georgia Power employees are committed to being good environmental stewards through education, partnerships and volunteerism that result in conservation, restoration and increased awareness," said Dr. Mark Berry, vice president of environmental & natural resources at Georgia Power. "We focus on these efforts because they make our communities great not only for the present, but they help create a better Georgia for the next generation."

In addition to Earth Month volunteer projects, Georgia Power supports environmentally focused organizations and programs that improve air and water quality, preserve natural resources and protect endangered species all year long. One example is the company's sponsorship and participation in river and lake cleanups around the state throughout the year. These events are hosted and sponsored by Georgia Power through Southern Company's Renew Our Rivers initiative.

The company is also a corporate sponsor of Rivers Alive, a volunteer waterway cleanup initiative targeting streams, rivers, lakes, beaches and wetlands across Georgia. Since 2003, Georgia Power employees and other volunteers statewide have removed more than two million pounds of trash through the program. 

Since 1883, Georgia Power has remained steadfast in its mission to improve the same communities it calls home for its customers, employees, neighbors and friends. In 2018, 3,400 employees and 2,000 retirees volunteered 143,000 hours.

To learn more about Georgia Power's environmental commitment, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com/Environment. 

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the Company's promise to 2.6 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, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the Company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the Company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

SOURCE Georgia Power