Southern Company, among the nation’s largest energy companies, will be the primary sponsor for the 2001 Annual Meeting of The Nature Conservancy as the global organization celebrates its 50th year of existence.

The meeting will be Oct. 3-5 near Orlando, Fla. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Launching the Next 50 Years.”

“Southern Company has for more than half a century demonstrated its commitment to the environment by not only reducing any impact of our operations but also by supporting a number of environmental initiatives,” said Allen Franklin, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. “We have historically partnered with local, state and national organizations that emphasize research, conservation, preservation, environmental education and wildlife protection.”

Southern Company and its five operating subsidiaries have specifically partnered with state chapters of The Nature Conservancy by donating dollars and land, committing volunteers and financial support for habitat restoration, serving on state boards and contributing countless hours to wildlife and conservation efforts.

“Southern Company’s support is an example of the kind of partnership with business that helps the Conservancy realize its mission,” said Steven McCormick, president and CEO, The Nature Conservancy. “We greatly appreciate Southern Company’s willingness to sponsor our annual meeting and their commitment to environmental stewardship.”

The Nature Conservancy was formed in 1951 in Washington, D.C., by a small group of ecologists and conservationists. The Conservancy’s mission is to “preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a super-regional energy company with more than 32,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Southeast. It is one of the largest producers of electricity in the United States. Southern Company is the parent firm of Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power, Savannah Electric, Southern Nuclear, Southern Company Energy Solutions, Southern LINC, Southern Telecom and Southern Power, which includes the company`s growing competitive generation business in the Southeast. Southern Company brands are synonymous with excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are 15 percent below the national average. With more than 500,000 shareholders, Southern Company common stock is one of the most widely held stocks in the United States.