Southwire Company, LLC, Georgia Power and nonprofit infrastructure innovator The Ray have joined forces on an innovative land management initiative in Carroll County, transforming a traditional energy transmission corridor into a thriving native wildflower meadow that supports pollinators, enhances biodiversity and demonstrates a more sustainable approach to managing utility rights-of-way.
Planted this spring near Southwire’s Carrollton facilities, the newly established meadow reimagines how rights-of-way under high-voltage utility lines can be utilized. By replacing traditional vegetation management practices with a carefully curated mix of native plants, the project creates a vibrant, diverse habitat that provides season-long food, shelter and nesting resources for native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife.
“This partnership with Southwire and The Ray shows how utility rights-of-way can support grid reliability while also providing habitat for pollinators and wildlife,” said Jennifer McNelly, vice president of environmental affairs at Georgia Power. “Projects like this show how thoughtful growth and conservation can go hand in hand, creating value for the grid, native species and customers across our state.”
Beyond supporting local biodiversity, native meadow systems offer distinct operational advantages. Deep-rooted native plants naturally suppress unwanted brush, lower long-term maintenance costs by reducing mowing frequency and aid in soil stabilization. These revitalized rights-of-way effectively serve as biological pathways, connecting fragmented rural landscapes and allowing wildlife to travel safely through urbanized zones without compromising energy grid reliability or safety access.
“Southwire is glad to partner with Georgia Power and The Ray on this project. Pollinators are in decline due to habitat loss and other factors, and this project will transform unused land for a beneficial purpose,” said Bo Quick, Vice President, Corporate Sustainability and Strategy at Southwire. “We recently published our 2025 report entitled The Power to Transform, which outlines Southwire’s commitment to responsible practices and corporate stewardship. We’re excited about how this project makes a difference in these efforts.”
The Carrollton habitat project is a practical, nationally scalable blueprint for how energy providers, industrial leaders and government entities can co-create functional, nature-positive landscapes within existing working infrastructure.
