American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
AEP is a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), the Business Roundtable’s Climate RESOLVE initiative, and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change Business Environment Leadership Council (BELC). BELC is a group of major companies that demonstrate leadership by establishing and meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; investing in more efficient products, practices and technologies; and supporting domestic and international action to achieve cost-effective emissions reductions. Read the guiding principles[2] of the Business Environmental Leadership Council.
In 2005, AEP announced it would extend its initial CCX commitment to achieve further reductions or offsets in emissions during 2007-2010, reaching an annual target of 6 percent by 2010. The new commitment is a cumulative reduction of 46 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent from 2001 to 2010, a 6 percent total reduction. AEP has committed to reaching this goal through internal reductions and investment in offsets. For example, these actions include:
Improving the efficiency of existing power plants to reduce CO2 emissions per net kilowatt hour;
Adding wind generation to its system, focused on AEP’s western states, to displace the company’s use of fossil fuel generation;
Improving the availability and increasing generation from the Donald C. Cook nuclear power plant, which achieved record generation levels during 2004 and 2005;
Retiring older and less efficient gas steam units in AEP’s western region and two coal units in its eastern region;
Substantially reducing the leakage rate of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent GHG, from transformers by approximately 90 percent; and
Reforesting lands in the United States and internationally.
“Climate change is a significant issue for society, and certainly for AEP, as we are one of the largest consumers of coal in the United States. We feel a growing imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to support a reasonable approach to carbon controls. It is critical that such controls are consistent with our obligation to provide reliable, reasonably priced electricity to support the economic well-being of our service territory and our country. Climate change is a global issue and we will continue to work with our international partners, including the Asia-Pacific Partnership, to encourage the participation of developing countries such as China and India. The United States is in a position to lead change and bring other nations into the process, and we will work with our representatives to do so.” - Michael G. Morris, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
short description:
American Electric Power[10] (AEP) is is a member of the Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC), the largest U.S.-based association of companies dedicated to business and policy solutions to climate change. AEP is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.
