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Introduction
The southern company is one of the largest producers of electricity in the United States and it is located in Atlanta. Having commenced its operations in 1949, the company supplies energy to a wide range of consumers in the US from its wide network of plants across the nation and involves both the competitive and regulated markets in the southern United States.
The company operates hydroelectric, gas, coal, and nuclear generation sources to generate electricity. In order for the company to operate successfully, it balances the shareholders interest, customers interests, and the community interests, as well as engaging in social responsibility activities, for instance, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, and Council for Aging (Southern company, 2003)
Various governmental agencies used to oversee the energy sector
A countrys energy supplies are important in energy planning; hence, policies are implemented in order to control the consumption. The southern company is in itself very wealthy and its services to the customers are very efficient and affordable.
According to Corporate Responsibility Lines to Everyone (2010a), President Obama announced that the federal government would guarantee $8.33 billion in bank loans to Southern Company (SO) in support of its bid to build a pair of reactors in Georgia, subject to approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Council.
This proves that the government of the united state is concerned about energy production and the funding of the southern company is a contribution towards the cost of producing energy by the government. Generally, the Federal State determines the energy policies in the United States in the consumption, production, and distribution of energy.
Therefore, it is very important for a government to identify and provide financial aid to such aspiring companies. Moreover, the southern company is an environmental company, which in the process of implementing the use of natural gases for the environmental safetys sake.
Environmental impacts when assessing various energy plants
According to an article by Haynes (2006), the southern company joined 5star program partners, which helps develop better stewardship of the environment by providing funds to conserve the environment.
In this case, the southern company vice president of research and environmental affairs indicated that, The funding Southern Company and EPA provide for the 5 Star program will build new and strengthen existing relationships with our environmental partners across the Southeast.
It also will give our employees the opportunity to engage in environmental stewardship projects and improve the communities where they live and work (Haynes, 2006). The companys environmental initiative involves increase of efficient energy and the reduction of air pollution. The company also promotes the use of fluorescent bulbs and even donates these bulbs to its clients.
According to the companys environmental reports, the company promotes awareness of the geothermal heat pumps, which use 25 to 40 percent less energy compared to air conditioning, ventilation, and heating systems (Southern company, 2003). The use of smart meters by the company has also proven efficient in monitoring electricity use without having to send workers to the customers.
Interestingly, this issue reduces the use of cars, which contribute to air pollution. The company also makes sure that it reduces emission in its plants, for instance, new natural gas-fired combined-cycle plants produce only half of the carbon dioxide compared to coal.
In addition, the company also focuses on developing the use of wood biomass since it produces carbon neutral electricity on the plant situated in Albany. The company also intends to make coal a cleaner fuel that is environmentally friendly.
According to the companys environmental report (2003), by the end of 2002, the company had reduced the overall sulphur dioxide emissions by 40% and nitrogen emissions by 31%. In 2oo3, the company improved the Georgia plant by reducing its impact on the air pollution in Atlanta.
In 1990, the company had reduced sulphur emissions by 60%; it also believes that the implementation of the earth cent program will play a big role in reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. According to the companys website, 95% of natural gas will be transported to the McDonough plant to operate.
The company will also adhere to all the environmental measures concerning safety while constructing the pipeline thus ensuring a proper installation of the pipeline. The Company thus ensures that safety is their number one priority when dealing with natural gasses. The aim of the company is to produce a cleaner electric power by use of natural gas, which leads to a cleaner future.
Environmental regulations and Social responsibility in electricity production
The common environmental challenges that face the southern company include: Identifying cost-effective ways to meet climate change initiatives; Maximizing efficient use of water; Implementing cost-effective solutions to further reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury emissions; Expanding reuse and recycling of byproducts and materials (Southern company, 2003).
However, the company is implementing all possible measures to curb this problem. According to the companies report, it seeks measures that control and prevent pollution in order to conserve natural resources. However, the southern company always tries to follow the rules and regulations of the energy sector, by ensuring that its plants are secure and that they do not cause harm to anyone.
The production of electricity may be associated with some disadvantages. For instance, the amount of water used in the generation of electricity is of a major concern since it leaves human beings short of water for domestic use and irrigation. In addition, carbon dioxide produced by these electricity plants traps the heat radiation from the earth to the sky, thus leading to the greenhouse effect.
This also results to global warming. According to Gray (2009, p. 187), climate change could affect US energy production and supply in various ways among them being immediate extreme weather conditions and reduction in the water supply.
Electricity has also caused fires all over the world; for instance, an error on connection and a life is lost, a common phenomenon in places where people try to tap electricity for themselves.
In conclusion, investors who are interested in the energy sector should put social responsibility as their first priority. They should focus on the well-being of the society before anything else. First, they should educate the citizens on harmful effects of electricity and how to avoid these mistakes in the future.
In addition, the upcoming investors should make sure that electricity is affordable to all regardless of the region. Secondly, investors should mostly focus on the natural gas in electricity production. According to Lindenberg (2009, pp 13), electricity generation causes the release of mercury to the space, causes competition for water with households; and leads to increased green house emissions.
He further advocates for wind power projects for electricity, which leads to avoidance of air pollution and reduction of the emission of carbon dioxide. This also reduces the amount of water used in the energy sector. Therefore, this method is effective and environmental friendly, but it is expensive and weather conditions are the key determinants.
Characteristics that would enable the plants longevity and short-term barriers or costs that would inhibit success
For an electric plant to be durable, then it has to abide by the rules of the energy sector. For the McDonough plant to operate effectively on the new process of natural gasses, then the Southern Company has to ensure that safety measures are put in place to avoid any accidents. According to the company brochure on the McDonough plant, the company aims to produce cleaner future (Plant McDonough, n.d).
This plant will consume more water but afterwards, it will have a less thermal impact on rivers, as the company will use a new cooling technology. The main factor is the cost for this plan to be effective, since gas is supposed to travel through hygienic pipes from Georgia to the McDonough plant.
However, if the southern company conquers this limitation and adheres to the safety rules and regulations, then the possibility of clean future will be a attainable. The government aid would be effective for such a project since it is aimed at the welfare of the environment. Moreover, for this plant to succeed, the company must ensure that all the rules and regulations are followed.
Ethical boundaries to consider when making energy choices
In any sector, what shines is the ethics of a particular firm. In the energy sector concerning electricity, the core values are safety and environmental friendliness. The main aim is to produce energy that has positive effects on people and the environment.
It is ironical when, for instance, a firm produces sufficient electricity at all times and people are happy about it, while on the other hand, other resources like water are depleted or made unavailable to the people, in addition to high pollution levels.
Therefore, to ensure that there is clean electricity, one should consider the various forms of electricity production that involve fewer emissions such as wind power (Corporate Responsibility Lines to Everyone, 2010b).
The electricity producing plants should be located far from peoples residents just incase of radiation, as it happened recently in Japan. The main ethic is to make sure that electricity production is based on natural gases, while the main agenda in this energy sector should be clean production with clean air results.
In addition, the rules and regulation of a country must be followed while implementing any measures in the energy sector. According to Vidal (2011), energy is the fundamental catalyst for the development of nations; without energy, societies are bound to stop growing and eventually decay to nothing.
Overall, an effective supply of energy is important for provision of sustainable supply of energy for any country. Inadequate energy supply may be a hindrance to the development of a nation. Wind energy could be a solution to pollution since it is essential provision of electricity and it is environmental friendly.
References
Corporate Responsibility Lines to Everyone. (2010a). Nuclear Power. Southern Company. Web.
Corporate Responsibility Lines to Everyone. (2010b). Community Involvement. Southern Company. Web.
Gray, G. (2009). The scientific assessment of the effects of global change on the United States. NY: Diane publishing.
Haynes, B. (2006). Southern Company Joins List of 5 Star Program Partners. Web.
Landenberg, S. (2009). 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy|s Contribution to U. S. Electricity Supply. NY: Diane publishing.
Plant McDonough. Natural Gas: providing for a Cleaner Future. Web.
Southern Company. (2003). Our Energy Future. Web.
Vidal, M. (2011). Dominican today news; Wind energy in DR would provide new light for progress. Web.
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