![\"Energy](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/be6ecc469a02f857d4751c6cd29f4723.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nThis figure from page ii of the meeting Notice illustrates both the problem and the solution for Southern Company.\r\nNatural gas has replaced coal as SO’s top energy source, and Nuclear is still \r\nin there.\r\nBut renewables are up to 4%.\r\nAnd over on the right of the same page:\r\n\r\n\r\n
- \r\nGrowth in Renewables\r\n
\r\nApproximately 3,800 megawatts of announced\r\nor added renewable capacity since 2012. This\r\nincludes the development of what is expected to\r\nbe the largest voluntary solar portfolio in the U.S.\r\n(at Georgia Power Company).\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\nInteresting use of “voluntary”, but never mind that.\r\nIf SO keeps that up, it will\r\n\r\n be more than doubling its solar capacity\r\nevery two years, faster than the national average.\r\nAnd that 4% will in less than ten years become the majority energy source.\r\n
\r\nHere are the materials provided for the meeting:\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
- \r\n\r\nNotice of\r\n2016 Annual Meeting\r\nof Stockholders\r\nand Proxy Statement<\/a>\r\n
- \r\n\r\nSouthern Company 2015 Annual Report<\/a>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\r\nHere, from where they were hidden on page 88, are the two stockholder proposals the board recommends voting against,\r\non \r\nthe IEA’s 2 degree scenario<\/a>\r\nand\r\non coal as stranded assets<\/a>.\r\nSO didn’t say for either one who proposed them.\r\n
Item 9<\/a><\/H3>\r\n
\r\n\r\nREPORT ON STRATEGY FOR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY 2°C SCENARIO\r\n
\r\nWhereas:\r\n<\/H4>\r\n
\r\nThe 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Synthesis\r\nReport warns that global warming will have “severe, pervasive\r\nand irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.” The costs\r\nof failing to address climate change are significant and are\r\nestimated to have an average value at risk of $4.2 trillion\r\nglobally. To mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and limit\r\nwarming to below 2 degrees Centigrade (2°C), as agreed in the\r\nCancun Agreement, the IPCC estimates that a fifty percent reduction\r\nin greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally is needed by 2050,\r\nrelative to 1990 levels.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe Southern Company has had a proactive response toward the\r\nlow-carbon transition by adding more than 3,600 MW of renewable\r\nprojects since 2012, developing ‘clean coal’ technology, adding\r\nnuclear energy generation, and making the first offer by a utility\r\nfor investment-grade Green Bonds valued at $1 billion.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nHowever, accelerated efforts are necessary: Southern is the third\r\nlargest Carbon Dioxide (C0 2 ) emitter in the country and ranked\r\n26th out of 32 utility companies for Energy Efficiency Savings in a\r\nbenchmarking report produced by Ceres in 2014.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nRegulatory and technology changes are underway that will profoundly\r\nimpact the utility business model. The U.S. Environmental Protection\r\nAgency (EPA) recently finalized the Clean Power Plan, requiring\r\nstates to achieve 32% GHG reductions on average nationwide (from\r\n2005 levels). Yet the International Energy Agency (lEA) 2°C\r\nScenario requires a 90% reduction of global average carbon intensity\r\nof electricity production by 2050, necessitating significant action\r\nbeyond the Clean Power Plan. Meanwhile, developments in new\r\ntechnologies are leading to sharply declining costs, increasing\r\ncompetitiveness of renewable energy generation and storage.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nRates must be designed for maximum flexibility to achieve climate\r\nobjectives while providing just and universal access to electricity\r\nservices, including affordable services to low-income customers.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nRecognizing the unique constraints on innovation for the low-carbon\r\ntransition in each regulated market, Southern’s subsidiary companies\r\ncan demonstrate a willingness to work with regulators to develop\r\nframeworks to catalyze the low-carbon transition. In Minnesota,\r\nutilities, rate-payers, and regulators are collaborating to map the\r\ntransition to a regulatory model that enables innovation, customer\r\noptions, and realizes public policy goals.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nProponents offer this supportive but stretching resolution to urge\r\nSouthern to position itself to thrive for the long-term in a\r\ndecarbonized energy sector.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nRESOLVED: Shareholders request that Southern Company issue a report\r\nby November 30, 2016, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary\r\ninformation, on Southern’s strategy for aligning business operations\r\nwith the IEA 2°C scenario, while maintaining the provision of safe,\r\naffordable, reliable energy.\r\n<\/p>\r\n
\r\nSupporting Statement:\r\n<\/H4>\r\n
\r\nProponents believe this report may include:\r\n