ATLANTA – Southern Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) have partnered to initiate conservation projects for Southern birds in their natural habitats. Under an 18-month pilot program entitled, The Power of Flight, Southern Company and the Foundation will implement bird habitat conservation efforts within Southern Company’s service territory of Georgia, northwest Florida, Alabama, and southeastern Mississippi.

A $1 million impact toward bird habitat conservation is expected to result from The Power of Flight partnership.

According to NFWF, birds are one of the most visible and popular forms of wildlife, with an estimated 65 million Americans participating in bird watching and feeding activities. Birding is the fastest-growing outdoor recreation, as birds can be found everywhere, from inner cities to the wilderness. “The Power of Flight partnership is an innovative environmental commitment to conserve a part of the South that is very special to Southern Company and its operating companies,” says Dr. Charles Goodman, Southern Company senior vice president of Research and Environmental Affairs. “We take seriously our commitment to improve the environment in our communities, and we will continue to look for opportunities and partnerships that promote wildlife protection, support environmental education and preserve land and water resources, among other efforts.”

The Power of Flight partnership will focus on specific species of birds that require immediate assistance if they are to remain important parts of the South’s ecosystems, such as the bobwhite quail and red-cockaded woodpecker. Habitat conservation efforts include the restoration of the longleaf pine on private lands, as it harbors a variety of species only found in the South. More than a dozen conservation partners will be involved in these projects.

“This ground-breaking commitment by Southern Company will help energize partnerships vital for conservation of the South’s birds and their habitats. Some of the species are found nowhere else on earth,” said John Berry, executive director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “Through this partnership with the Foundation, Southern Company is setting a new standard for corporate commitment to conservation.”

Southern Company will provide $250,000 to kick off the Power of Flight program, as well as make a $50,000 donation to support the Foundation’s bird conservation programs. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will match Southern Company’s $250,000 contribution dollar for dollar.

Grants will be awarded to conservation organizations, natural resources agencies and universities committed to conserving birds and their habitats. Grants also will be awarded for education programs that use birds to introduce youth to the outdoors and natural resource issues. Grantees will be required to match all awards on a minimum of a one-to-one basis, which will result in the total impact of this program being at least $1 million.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats by attracting diverse investments, encouraging public and private collaboration, and funding the stewardship of natural resources. The Foundation supports and invests in the best possible solutions for wildlife conservation through creative, diverse, and respectful partnerships. For more information, please visit www.nfwf.org

With 4 million customers and nearly 37,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier super-regional energy company in the Southeast and a leading U.S. producer of electricity. Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, a fast-growing competitive generation company, an energy services business and a competitive retail natural gas business, 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 15 percent below the national average. Southern Company has been named No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s 2002 “America’s Most Admired Companies” list in the Electric and Gas Utility industry. Southern Company has more than 500,000 shareholders, making its common stock one of the most widely held in the United States.