Southwire signs agreement with Alabama Power to support solar energy 

In support of its “carbon zero” goal, Georgia-based Southwire has signed a 10-year contract to participate in Alabama Power’s Renewable Subscription Program (RSP), reducing Southwire’s enterprisewide carbon footprint from its operations by about 3%.

In July 2020, Southwire announced its goal to eliminate or offset all of the company’s scope 1 (associated with fuel combustion) and scope 2 (associated with electricity consumption) greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

“Southwire is pleased to have the opportunity to bolster our relationship with Alabama Power as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and support our nation’s transition to clean energy,” said Burt Fealing, Southwire’s executive vice president, general counsel and chief sustainability officer. “We hope to set an example for others in our value chain to make similar reductions in their greenhouse gas impact as well.”

Through the program, Southwire will receive the environmental attributes from a solar-power generation system planned for Butler County, and Alabama Power will retire the associated renewable energy credits (RECs) on behalf of Southwire. Southwire operates a plant in Heflin, in Alabama Power’s service territory.

“Alabama Power is committed to developing cost-effective energy solutions for our customers to help support their renewable energy and sustainability goals,” said Derrick Cherry, team leader of customer renewables at Alabama Power. “Through this partnership with Southwire, we are excited to continue the focus of providing sustainable energy solutions for the future to help enhance the communities in which we live and work.”

The Butler County Solar Project is a planned 80-megawatt generating facility expected to come online in 2024. Southwire’s allocation will be about 19% of the RECs from the project, which represents an estimated 33,000-megawatt-hours per year.

The allocation will reduce Southwire’s scope 2 carbon emissions – those associated with electricity it purchases from Alabama Power. The partnership with Alabama Power is a result of discussions that began nearly three years ago.

“At Southwire, we take a multilayered approach to achieving our carbon zero objective,” said Bo Quick, Southwire’s senior director of sustainability and environmental partnerships. “Our portfolio of solutions includes facility energy efficiency improvements, on-site solar generation, purchasing renewable energy and contracting with our utility partners for renewable energy credits. Alabama Power’s RSP helps us continue to make significant progress toward our emission reduction goals.”

Southwire Company LLC is one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, utility products, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools. Learn more at www.southwire.com.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to 1.5 million customers across the state. Learn more at www.alabamapower.com.