It’s troubling when a newspaper fails in its mission to provide straightforward, balanced coverage of an important topic. It’s even more disappointing when the topic is something that strikes close to home.That was our reaction when we read how the New York Times portrayed our company. We worked closely with the reporter to ensure she received clear and honest information about Alabama Power and Southern Co. We answered every question the reporter asked. But when the story finally emerged in print, it bore little resemblance to the place where more than 6,700 dedicated Alabama Power employees go to work each day.
It would take too long to outline the many inaccuracies, misrepresentations and false perceptions displayed throughout the article. For those of you who’ve read the story, and who know our company’s nearly 100-year history of community service and concern for this state, correcting every point is simply unnecessary. Instead, we believe it’s more productive to state clearly where we stand on some of the issues raised by The New York Times. Because after all is said and done, it doesn’t really matter what The New York Times says. What matters is what you, our customers and our neighbors, know about Alabama Power.
Contrary to the article’s misleading slant, Alabama Power has been reducing its impact on the environment for years and is working aggressively to reduce emissions even further. Since 1990, we have reduced our emission rates of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 45 percent and 44 percent respectively. Between now and 2010, we expect to invest $1.5 billion on environmental controls at our fossil plants.
The improvements we’re making are already helping improve air quality in Alabama — air quality that, by the way, has been getting better for years. Last month we completed construction of new environmental controls at Plant Gorgas in Walker County that will reduce NOx emissions at the plant by more than 50 percent during ozone season. We completed those improvements a year before they were required. New controls under construction at Plant Miller in Jefferson County will reduce NOx emissions at that plant by 80 percent during ozone season. In all, we are investing $500 million through 2006 at our plants across the state to specifically address ozone.
It’s important to understand that improvements at Alabama Power plants alone won’t solve Alabama’s ozone problems. Automobiles, other commercial and industrial sources, even Alabamians’ routine habits contribute to the formation of ozone. In fact, cars produce both nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds, another key component of ozone, right at ground level, where ozone poses a hazard. The New York Times article implies that all ozone in the Birmingham area is the result of emissions from our power plants, which is not true.
Our important environmental mission includes providing careful stewardship of the rivers and lakes where Alabama Power has hydroelectric facilities — facilities that provide reliable, low-cost and emission-free electricity for our customers. Our reservoirs not only provide more than 157,000 acres of water and more than 4,000 miles of shoreline for Alabamians to use and enjoy, they also provide protection for riverside communities that in the past were harmed by periodic river flooding.
We have the responsibility, with federal oversight, of operating our hydroelectric system to serve these many purposes. It is a balancing act to provide electrical energy, acceptable lake levels and adequate downstream flows to address the concerns of all.
As for participating in the governmental process, we make no apologies for being at the table when the issues potentially affect our customers and shareholders. In the South, we might call that freedom of speech. Unfortunately, The New York Times intentionally distorted the picture by combining the contributions made by our employee political action committee with the much larger contributions of the Business Council of Alabama, which represents more than 5,000 companies across the state.
The reality is, the folks who make up Alabama Power care deeply for this state, because this is our home. What’s good for Alabama, for Alabama’s environment and for Alabama families is good for Alabama Power. We will continue to work vigorously to protect and improve the quality of life that we all enjoy while keeping up with Alabama’s growing demand for affordable energy.
And that’s the truth.
Steve R. Spencer is executive vice president of Alabama Power Company.
