Southern Company and PGA TOUR Partner Again to Power TOUR Championship with 100% Renewable Energy

GEO certification achieved in 2023 for the first time in tournament history

ATLANTA, August 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Southern Company today announced that its system has been 100% renewable energy for the TOUR Championship, professional golf’s season-ending event. Southern Company and its subsidiaries Georgia Power and Southern Company Gas worked with the tournament and the PGA TOUR to promote sustainability efforts on and off the golf course.

The PGA TOUR’s season-ending event returns to Atlanta and the newly restored East Lake Golf Club August 29-September 1, 2024. Every year, it’s all about the TOUR Championship and the FedExCup Playoffs Finals, where the top 30 golfers compete for the season-ending title. The TOUR Championship has become Atlanta’s must-attend outdoor sporting event of the summer, with something for every fan.

The 2023 edition of the TOUR Championship became a GEO Certified® tournament for the first time in the event’s history, recognizing the event’s sustainability commitments, actions and progress.

“We really couldn’t have gotten GEO certification without Southern Company,” said Brazos Barber, PGA TOUR’s director of sustainability. “They’re really the kind of partner you dream of, especially in terms of sustainability. They really believe in sustainability and reducing their energy footprint.”

The PGA TOUR season-ending event received the International Award for Sustainability in Golf, overseen by Scotland-based GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, which reflects measures in the organization, communication and legacy of the event.

The 2023 event met the specific criteria set out in the Voluntary Standard for Sustainable Golf Tournaments. This standard includes requirements for planning, execution and continuous improvement across a broad range of key sustainability themes and areas of action, including energy, waste and resource management, site protection and procurement, as well as social impact and legacy.

“Being certified shows that we’re not just talking the talk. We’re doing what we say and actually achieving the sustainability outcomes that we’re striving for,” Barber said. “It’s a stamp of approval.”

The independent third party verification was carried out by the Council for Responsible Sport, with a thorough assessment by GEO Certification Ltd and agreement on several areas of continuous improvement for future editions of the event.

For the 2024 event, Southern Company’s customized, sustainable solution includes:

• 500,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy credits to avoid emissions generated by fossil fuel-based electricity used on the road
• Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to eliminate emissions from the clubhouse’s natural gas appliances by integrating environmental credits from carbon neutral RNG diverted from landfills
• 90% of golf carts are electric
• 11,000 gallons of renewable diesel (R99) to replace traditional diesel
• Battery and solar powered mobile phone charging stations for use by fans on the track
• Electric vehicle chargers in the East Lake Golf Club parking lot for player and visitor use
• Renewable and recyclable materials in Southern Company’s Good Energy Pavilion fan experience

Pursuing sustainability on the road aligns with Southern Company’s goal off the road: achieving net zero emissions in its system’s electric and natural gas operations by 2050. The company reduced its system’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 49% in 2023 compared to 2007 levels. The net zero target includes direct greenhouse gas emissions in the company’s electricity and natural gas operations.

Since 1999, Southern Company has been the Official Energy Company of the PGA TOUR. Southern Company is now in its ninth year as a proud partner of the TOUR Championship. Southern Company will continue to be proud partners of the TOUR Championship alongside The Coca-Cola Company and Accenture.

Southern Company is committed to delivering clean and resilient energy solutions that connect communities, businesses and future generations to opportunity and growth.

For more information, visit Southern Company | Golf.

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers in the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The Company has electric utilities in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy company with national capabilities, a fiber network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we take action to meet the needs of customers and communities as we pursue our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ​​ensure that we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are key to our continued success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our culture and hiring practices have earned the Company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. For more information, visit southerncompany.com.

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-company-and-pga-tour-again-partner-to-power-tour-championship-with-100-renewable-energy-302235168.html

SOURCE Southern Company