POWERGRAMS

Green Progress Report highlights APC projects A number of Alabama Power and Alabama Power Foundation projects are again recognized in this year's progress report by the nonprofit Green Resource Center for Alabama (GRCA). Each year, the report highlights green and sustainable achievements across the state. Alabama Power has consistently been highlighted in the annual reports. "In order to continue the progress we've already made on sustainability issues in Alabama, collaboration is the key to success," said Chris Williams, president of the GRCA board. "Indeed, all of our past achievements were the result of collective solutions brought forward by a diverse group of community leaders, such as Alabama Power Co., working together to make Alabama a more sustainable state." Among company projects singled out in the 2014 Green Progress Report: SOLAR RESEARCH Southern Research Institute, in conjunction with the Electric Power Research Institute and Alabama Power, commissioned and completed Alabama's first solar research center in Birmingham. The new Southeastern Solar Research Center includes multiple configurations of photovoltaic solar panel arrays, microinverters and an advanced energy-monitoring system. COOSA RIVER River flows have been returned to a 20-mile section of the Coosa River near Weiss Dam as part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's hydro relicensing process with Alabama Power and river stakeholders. This flow provides the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources the unique opportunity to reintroduce many native fishes and mollusk species back into historically occupied areas. STUDENTS TO STEWARDS The Alabama Power Foundation's new "Students to Stewards" program awarded more than $40,000 in conservation education grants to 25 schools and nonprofit organizations. Recipients will use the money for projects ranging from creating outdoor classrooms to field studies to conservation-related classroom materials. BIRMINGHAM ZOO The Birmingham Zoo and partners celebrated the installation of 280 solar panels, 150 feet long and 32 feet wide, on top of the pergola of the Junior League of Birmingham's Hugh Kaul Children's Zoo. Alabama Power installed an educational kiosk where visitors can track how much energy the system is producing and view information about other Alabama Power renewable research projects. RENEW OUR RIVERS During the 15th year of Renew Our Rivers, volunteers removed more than 380,000 pounds of trash across the state. This marks the most trash collected in the past five years by the program coordinated by Alabama Power. GOOD ROOTS The Alabama Power Foundation awarded 38 Good Roots grants totaling more than $33,000 to help communities plant trees. In partnership with the Alabama Forestry Association and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association, the foundation provides Good Roots grants to cities, towns and nonprofit organizations to purchase trees. ELECTRIC VEHICLES Alabama Power made large strides in improving electric vehicle infrastructure through charging station initiatives for its fleet, employees and customers. The company installed 48 plug-in electric vehicle charging stations at 18 locations to support its electric fleet traveling around the state for education and demonstration. RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES Alabama Power's new, improved Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) program allows customers to buy certificates associated with energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar or biomass. RECs allow residential customers and businesses to support renewable energy development on their terms, with the option to buy multiple RECs. In the 2012 Green Progress Report, the company's transactions with Midwest wind farms were listed as one of the "Top 12" initiatives. In prior years, the Renewable Energy Rate and Renew Our Rivers cleanups have been cited among other company or foundation projects. To see the full 2014 Green Progress Report, visit mygreenbirmingham.com. Green Progress Reports from prior years can be viewed at greenalabama.org. To learn more about Alabama Power's environmental initiatives, visit alabamapower.com and click on the "Environment" tab. To learn more about the Alabama Power Foundation, visit powerofgood.com. By Brandon Glover ENVIRONMENT 3 Alabama Power has charging stations for electric vehicles at locations statewide.

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