Sierra Club, AEP, PUCO Staff and other stakeholders reached agreement in a case before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that will advance an existing agreement to develop 900 MW of clean renewable energy, as well as initiate a groundbreaking electric vehicle program, while protecting AEP consumers from monthly fixed fee rate increases.
The Sierra Club and other stakeholders reached a settlement agreement for AEP Ohio to develop 900 MW of renewable energy, initiate an EV program, and protect consumers from monthly fixed-fee rate increases.
Specifically, it will dedicate $3.7 million to level 2 charging at multi-unit dwellings, workplaces and in public locations, and $5.8 million to fast-charging stations which will enable long-distance EV travel within the state.
Finally, AEP dropped its request for a new rate design that would have increased fixed customer charges by $10/month according to the original application.
The settlement agreement, which still requires final Commission approval, was supported by a broad set of stakeholders, including commission staff as well as environmental, consumer, renewable energy, and large customer interests.
In response, Daniel Sawmiller, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign released the following statement:
“AEP’s customers have been demanding clean energy for years. Our vision in these settlement agreements has been to attract clean energy investments into Ohio’s Appalachian communities at sufficient scale to appeal to job-creating manufacturers in the solar supply chain.
“Ohio has relied on the families in Appalachia for power production for decades. Now, with high unemployment rates and other problems facing Appalachian Ohio, we’re glad to be one step closer to bringing new clean energy jobs to the region.”
Sawmiller added the following statement:
“Ohio has relied on the families in Appalachia for power production for decades. Now, with high unemployment rates and other problems facing Appalachian Ohio, we’re glad to be one step closer to bringing new clean energy jobs to the region. Electric vehicles are also a critical part of Ohio’s clean energy future. This pilot program will make electric vehicle charging available at apartment complexes, workplaces and in low-income communities where charging is needed.
“This program provides a great opportunity to learn as the Commission continues its PowerForward Initiative and to ultimately leverage electric vehicle charging for the benefit of all AEP customers. As more charging stations become available, electric vehicle adoption will continue to grow in Ohio and help to reduce dangerous pollution that fills our air and harms our health and climate.”
Filed Under: Policy
