ATLANTA - Sept. 20, 2007 - Southern Company, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Association of Counties and Wildlife Habitat Council announced today that 14 new wetland, riparian and coastal conservation grants have been awarded in the Southeast through the Five Star Wetlands Restoration Program.

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This year, Southern Company provided $231,000 in grants - combined with partner matching funds, a total of $928,000 will benefit projects in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. Since 2006, Southern Company has contributed $375,000 through 23 grants that will result in an on-the-ground conservation impact of $1.36 million.

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proudly supports the Five Star Restoration Grant Program as one of the best examples of cooperative conservation and environmental stewardship," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Water. "These community-based projects build lasting relationships for protecting and sustaining wetlands, streams and coasts."

The Five Star Restoration Program is a national initiative providing financial and technical support to wetland, riparian and coastal habitat restoration projects. It brings together citizen groups, corporations, students, landowners, youth conservations corps, and local, state and federal government agencies to build diverse partnerships and foster local natural resource stewardship through education, outreach and training activities. In 2006, Southern Company pledged $1.2 million over five years to fund community-based, wetland and streamside restoration across its four-state service territory. Additionally, Southern Company collaborates with the program partners to select the projects each year and distribute funds to grantees.

"We're pleased to continue our partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency's Five Star Program," said Chris Hobson, senior vice president of research and environmental affairs for Southern Company. "As the Southern region lead corporate sponsor of Five Star Restoration, Southern Company has committed five years of matching funds for projects in our region. These grassroots efforts will make a significant contribution to our environmental landscape and to the understanding of the importance of healthy wetlands, streams and coastal environments in our communities."

The following organizations have been awarded Five Star grants in 2007:

In Alabama:

• Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc -- to restore1.5 acres of Harvey Reed Park in Centerpoint, Ala., by planting native species to improve habitat for fish and wildlife and water quality of contributing storm water runoff. The project will provide a community
  gateway to the Five Mile Creek Greenway. Project partners also include: Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District / U.S. Department of Agriculture / ENSR / City of Centerpoint / Jefferson County Roads and Transportation Department.
• Dauphin Island Sea Lab - to restore .25 acres of Little Lagoon in Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge through submerged aquatic vegetation plantings. Student volunteers will learn important techniques for planting submerged aquatic vegetation and the benefits of this habitat. The techniques that will be used for the restoration at Little Lagoon will be transferable to similar projects in the Mobile Bay estuarine system and beyond. Project partners also include: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program / AL Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources / Bon
  Secour NWR.
• Mobile County - to create an elementary school rain garden program to help protect Big Creek, the primary drinking water source for the Mobile metropolitan area. Project partners also include: Alabama Coastal Foundation / South Alabama Nurserymen's Association / Tanner Williams Elementary School / Mobile County Master Gardener's Association / Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.
• Southern Environmental Center - to restore 50 feet of stream bank in a 700-acre nature preserve along Turkey Creek in Pinson, Ala. The project will reduce sediment run-off, erosion, and stream bank degradation; improve water quality for vermillion darter habitat; and provide an outdoor lab for Birmingham-Southern College's Urban Environmental Studies program, visitor education and Eagle Scouts projects. Project partners also include: Vulcan Materials / Youth Leadership Forum /
  Thompson Tractor /Forever Wild / ENSR / Jefferson County Commission.

In Florida:

• Florida Department of Environmental Protection - to propagate, tend,and restore 21 acres of emergent submerged aquatic vegetation along the northern shoreline of Pensacola Bay. Seven acres of oyster reef habitat and fourteen acres of salt marsh will be created at this site. The project will also include the construction of sidewalk, observation platforms, and a nature trail. Project partners also include: City of Pensacola / Escambia County / Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties Sea Grant Extensions.
• Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves Office/CAMA - to restore four acres of emergent salt marsh and protect 1,240 feet of shoreline at Deadman's Island. Project partners also include: City of Gulf Breeze / Escambia and Okaloosa County School Districts / University of West Florida /
  Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission / Florida Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas
• Partnership for Community Programs, Inc. (two grants)
  • To conduct a hands-on "Grasses in Classes" student program in several panhandle Florida school districts that will produce enough vegetation to restore and enhance 7.63 acres of wetland and 3,673 feet of riparian corridor. Project partners will also include: University of Florida Sea Grant Extension Program / Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Extension / Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay School Districts / Florida Department of Environmental Protection / Bay Area Resource Council / Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
  • To restore 2.71 acres of Oyster Lake in Pensacola, Fla., by removing
    invasives and planting woody and herbaceous species. The project will
    reduce flooding and improve the habitat for the Choctawhatchee Beach
    Mouse, the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, the Panhandle Spider Lily, and
    other species. Project partners also include: University of Florida Sea
    Grant Extension / Bay Area Resource Council / Choctawhatchee Basin
    Alliance / Walton Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Boards / South Walton
    Community Council / Northwest Florida Water Management District
• Walton College (two grants)
  • To restore in Destin, Fla., .3 acres of land at Mattie Kelly Park by removing invasive plants and replanting native wetland vegetation; and to create an oyster reef at Joe's Bayou Recreation Area to improve water quality, create fish and invertebrate habitat, and act as a
    living breakwater to protect the shoreline from increased erosion. Project partners also include: City of Destin / University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / Florida Department of Environmental Protection / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Mattie
    Kelly Cultural and Environmental Institute.
  • To restore approximately 1,000 feet of creek shoreline in Liza Jackson Park by returning a creek to a more natural, vegetated setting to reduce storm water velocity runoff. The improved water quality will help reduce bacterial pollution into Santa Rosa Sound and will reduce beach closures in the park's swimming areas. Project partners also include: Northwest Florida Management District / City of Fort Walton Beach / University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida Sea Grant / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In Georgia:

• Conasauga River Alliance - to build on a previous grant to restore and protect a three-acre limestone springs complex in Varnell, Ga., and develop a stewardship mentoring program. Project partners also include: City of Varnell / Limestone Valley RC&D / Whitfield County / Dalton
  College.
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources - to restore approximately 10 acres of ecologically valuable habitat in Lake Oconee to prevent further island erosion. The project will also provide fishery enhancements, such as sunken cedar trees and spawning gravel, and migratory bird attractors to wetland and upland habitats of the island. Project partners also include: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership / Reynolds Plantation Heritage and Nature Center / Lake Oconee Anglers Club / Boy Scouts of America / Georgia Power.
• Elachee Nature Science Center - to restore 15 acres of riparian habitat within the Upper Walnut Creek Watershed of the Oconee River Basin. This project will educate people on the adverse impacts of exotic invasive species on native habitats to promote local conservation efforts. Project partners also include: Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission / Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council / Gainesville College and State University / Hall County / City of Gainesville / Georgia Forestry Commission / Hall County Soil and Water Conservation District / Kudzu
  Free Communities.

In Mississippi:

• Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain - to restore 104 acres of riparian corridor along Turkey Creek and 890 feet of riparian corridor within the Greenway in Gulfport, Miss., to improve water quality and other important habitat functions. The project will educate the public about the importance of riparian corridors and native plants with respect to the health of the creek and their community. Project partners also include: Wolf River Conservation Society, Inc. / Turkey Creek Community Initiatives / Gulf Coast Recovery Corps / Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.

The goal of EPA's Wetlands program is to motivate and inspire the Nation to value, protect and restore the ecological integrity of its wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. The Wetlands Program accomplishes this through co- leadership of the Clean Water Act's wetlands regulatory program, and by fostering effective wetlands management in strategic partnerships with states, tribes, local governments and other key partners. EPA's vision is for America to have abundant and healthy wetlands and aquatic ecosystems that sustain biologically diverse plant and animal life, improve water quality, protect communities from flooding and provide recreational opportunities.

About Southern Company

With 4.3 million customers and more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America's fastest-growing regions. 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 significantly below the national average. Southern Company has been listed the top ranking U.S. electric service provider in customer satisfaction for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at http://www.southerncompany.com/.

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SOURCE: Southern Company

Media Contact: Valerie Holpp, Southern Company Media Relations, +1.404.506.5333 or +1.866.506.5333, media@southerncompany.com