American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) issued a request for proposals (RFP) Monday seeking long-term purchases of up to 1,100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy resources.
Proposals must include commercially proven renewable energy technologies such as wind, certified low-impact hydro, commercial-scale solar, geothermal, biologically derived methane gas and certain biomass and biofuels energy projects. The generation must be interconnected to PJM Interconnection (PJM) or Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and be operational no later than December 31, 2011.
The renewable RFP is part of AEP’s goal to add 2,000 MW of new wind or other renewable energy by the end of 2011 as part of the company’s strategy to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
"Expansion of renewable power will require significant investment in transmission infrastructure to transport renewable energy from where it can be viably produced to population centers. On a national level, we must move forward with legislation that will support construction of a national extra-high voltage transmission system. Without significant extra-high voltage transmission investment, our national renewable aspirations cannot be achieved," Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and CEO, said.
AEP’s wind energy portfolio currently is 1,783 MW, including 310 MW of wind generation owned and operated by AEP in Texas and 1,473 MW of wind energy acquired through long-term power purchase agreements.
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.
Pre-bid webinars for potential bidders will be conducted June 16 for
bidders in PJM and June 18 for bidders in SPP. Additional information
can be found at the link below.