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Gulf Power employees pitch in for cleanup on Thursday
PRNewswire
NYSE: SO
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Oct. 23, 2008 - Sometimes it’s better to take from nature. Today, Gulf Power employees will be doing just that in partnership with Perdido Key State Park to remove debris that was dumped when Hurricane Ivan devastated the area. Since 1999, more than 4.3 million tons of litter and debris have been removed through Renew Our Rivers efforts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi by Southern Company subsidiaries – including Gulf Power Company. This is the third year of Gulf Power’s efforts in the program.
Hurricane Ivan crashed ashore with a 15-foot storm surge on Sept. 16, 2004, slinging debris deep into the network of dunes on Perdido Key. While the main beach areas have been cleared, embedded debris remains in areas away from the beaten path, disturbing critical habitat.
Since 2006, Gulf Power employees have removed more than 11 tons of debris during Renew Our Rivers cleanups at Gulf Islands National Seashore near Gulf Breeze, and St. Andrews State Park and St. Andrew Bay in the Panama City area.
Keep America Beautiful awarded Southern Company the National Awards for Litter Prevention award that recognizes outstanding programs that promote litter prevention through education, public awareness and hands-on learning.
The Renew Our Rivers program began with an initial clean-up of the Coosa River in 1999 by a small group from Alabama Power Company. It has grown to a coordinated, system-wide effort involving employees, families, scout troops, schools and environmental groups working toward a common goal.
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