View source for David M. Ratcliffe

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'''David M. Ratcliffe''' has been chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the [[Southern Company]] since 2004. Southern Company is the second largest producer of coal-fired energy in the United States.<ref name="existing">[[Existing U.S. Coal Plants]]</ref> Prior to heading Southern, Ratliffe was CEO of its largest subsidiary Georgia Power, starting in 1999. Prior to running Georgia Power, Ratcliffe was CEO of Mississippi Power, another Southern Company subsidiary.<ref name="southern">[http://www.southerncompany.com/aboutus/bios.aspx Chief Executive Officer], Southern Company, accessed November 2008.</ref> 

Ratcliffe joined Georgia Power in 1971 as a biologist, coordinating environmental monitoring and compliance programs in and around power plants. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Valdosta State University in 1970 and his law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1975.<ref name="southern"/>