AEP Files for Largest Renewable Energy Increase in Ohio’s History
COLUMBUS – American Electric Power (AEP) filed an amended Long-Term Forecast Report today at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the first step in demonstrating the need for at least 900 Megawatts of new renewable energy, which would more than double clean energy in a state that is dominated by coal and gas electricity production. Today’s filing is a result of public demand from AEP’s Ohio customers and advocacy from environmental organizations that called on AEP to ditch plans to invest in propping up failing coal-fired power plants and invest in cheaper and cleaner resources.
Despite years of gridlock over energy legislation at the state level and extremely restrictive wind siting laws, today’s filing at the PUCO, if approved, would align Ohio with a growing regional trend toward increasingly cheaper renewable resources. AEP is expected to submit more details on the individual renewable energy projects that make up their proposal at a later date.
The following is a statement from Daniel Sawmiller, Ohio energy policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“Ohio has never seen this much clean energy proposed at once. It’s clearly the start of a path toward renewable energy that Ohioans have been demanding for years. If approved, this proposal will significantly expand the state’s underdeveloped clean energy economy and bring with it significant economic and health benefits.
“This proposal is a result of years of tireless advocacy from a broad collection of Ohioans that helped AEP move in a new direction. While it makes economic sense for AEP to invest in clean energy, strong customer demand is also helping drive renewable energy projects in Ohio and across the country.”
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.