#United States #Birmingham #Alabama Power #Environment #Renew Our Rivers

Renew Our Rivers Program Enters Its 26th Season

Alabama Power is back with the highly anticipated 26th season of its Renew Our Rivers (ROR) initiative, set to launch on March 1 at Valley Creek. This program focuses on cleaning Alabama's waterways and has already amassed a remarkable 13.4 million pounds of debris removed over the past years. Program Coordinator Mike Clelland is enthusiastic about this year's efforts, as he plans to organize 28 cleanup events running until the end of October, with more dates potentially being added.

Clelland stated, "We're kicking off another quarter-century, aiming to significantly engage the community in environmental stewardship." With a goal of distributing around 5,000 ROR T-shirts to volunteers, this season is expected to attract a strong turnout. Last year, nearly 3,400 volunteers participated in the cleanup efforts, managing to remove approximately 107 tons of trash from Alabama's lakes and waterways. Over its history, the ROR program has rallied over 104,000 volunteers, showcasing a long-lasting commitment to enhancing the natural environment of Alabama.

One standout feature of the Renew Our Rivers cleanups is the diversity of volunteers involved. It includes Alabama Power employees, local homeowner and boat owner groups (often referred to as HOBO), and various environmental organizations. Clelland noticed an increase this year in volunteer recruitment, particularly from lake associations, highlighting a growing enthusiasm for the initiative among the community.

He remarked, "The energy for the program is still there, and it's even increasing in some instances," reflecting a positive trend post-pandemic. Among the volunteers are high school and college students, scout groups, and community members, all eager to play their part in preserving Alabama's natural resources.

Upcoming Cleanup Events

The project aims to keep residents informed about cleanup schedules through their respective local lake associations. Participants should note that dates may change due to weather conditions, emphasizing the need for flexibility and adaptability in their planning.

Here are some key upcoming cleanup dates and locations:

• - March 1: Valley Creek (Adger, Birmingham, Bessemer, Providence)
• - March 22: Minor Heights Community at Village Creek
• - March 28-29: Lake Eufaula (Chattahoochee River)
• - March 29-April 5: Logan Martin (Coosa River)
• - April 12: Lay Lake (Coosa River)
• - April 17-18: Smith Lake (Winston County)
• - May 3: Lake Jordan (Coosa River)
• - October 21-23: R.L. Harris (Tallapoosa River-Lake Wedowee)
• - October 31-November 1: Lake Martin (Tallapoosa River)

These events reflect Alabama Power's commitment towards ongoing environmental conservation and community engagement. Volunteers can continue to find more information regarding the Renew Our Rivers initiative and discover local cleanup events by visiting AlabamaPower.com/RenewOurRivers.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of the Southern Company, provides reliable electric service to approximately 1.5 million customers across the state. The continued success of the Renew Our Rivers program underscores their dedication to not only delivering energy but also ensuring a sustainable and healthy environment for future generations.