U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz today joined an international delegation of government and industry leaders to tour the Kemper County energy facility and see firsthand the innovative 21^st century coal technology under construction in southeastMississippi. During the visit, international energy ministry officials representing more than a half dozen countries discussed opportunities to leverage the facility's technology to cleanly and efficiently meet their nations' energy needs.

The event followed the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) Ministerial Meeting inWashington, D.C., where the Kemper project was endorsed by the CSLF and added to its portfolio of pioneering activities.

"Southern Company is, in many ways, leading all towards a 21st century generation portfolio," said Secretary Moniz.

Joining Secretary Moniz at the Kemper facility were Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning, Mississippi Power President and CEO Ed Hollandand energy ministry officials from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico,Norway, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

"The Kemper County energy facility's technology provides a way to maintain coal's place in a clean, safe, reliable and affordable portfolio of energy resources," said Fanning. "Today's visit demonstrates the international interest in using 21^st century coal technology first deployed in Mississippi to help power economies around the globe."

There are currently 6,000 workers onsite and more than 480 Mississippi companies involved in theKemper project. Most recently the project met major milestones by testing the power generation portion of the plant and connection of its largest electric transmission lines. The facility is scheduled to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2014.