American Electric Power (AEP) has filed an amended Long-Term Forecast Report with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that demonstrates the need for at least 900 MW of new renewable generation resources in Ohio.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), this would more than double clean energy in a state that is dominated by coal and gas electricity production.
The Sept. 19 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 clean energy, explains NRDC.
Despite years of gridlock over energy legislation at the state level and extremely restrictive wind siting laws, the filing at the PUCO, if approved, would align Ohio with a growing regional trend toward increasingly cheaper renewable resources, says the NRDC.
AEP is expected to submit more details on the individual renewable energy projects that make up the proposal at a later date.
“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,” states Daniel Sawmiller, the NRDC’s Ohio energy policy director. “If approved, this proposal will significantly expand the state’s underdeveloped clean energy economy and bring with it significant economic and health benefits.”
Sawmiller adds, “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.”
