April 30, 2008

AEP Corporate Sustainability Report Outlines Challenges, Performance

American Electric Power Co. has a plan to reduce and offset its greenhouse gas emissions.

Demonstrating and deploying carbon-capture technology on two existing pulverized coal plants; building new plants with lower emission designs; continuing to improve the efficiency of its existing coal-fueled fleet; and adding 1,000 megawatts of renewable generation capacity by 2011 are steps the company will take, according to its second Corporate Sustainability Report released this month.

In 2007, AEP’s CO2 emissions increased 2.8 percent while electricity demand grew 3.6 percent.

AEP’s plans also include additional investments in domestic greenhouse gas offsets, such as methane capture from livestock and landfills, increased investment in forestry offsets, and programs to offset GHG emissions from its 11,000-vehicle fleet and corporate aircraft.

The report details how the company will deal with mandatory carbon reductions and the steps it is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fifteen percent of its self-imposed 1,000-megawatt goal will come from improving internal efficiency, with customer programs accounting for 85 percent of the reductions.

In October, AEP paid $4.6 billion in a record clean air settlement.

In July, EL reported that AEP, the No. 1 industrial emitter of carbon dioxide in the U.S., was working on some innovative technologies to cut emissions.

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