COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) has been named one of the nation's Top
Utilities in Economic Development by Site Selection
magazine.
Site Selection annually evaluates utilities'
corporate project investment and job creation on a cumulative and
per-capita basis. AEP has been recognized on the list nine of the
past 10 years.
"AEP is proud to be acknowledged again for strengthening the
economies of the communities where we live and work," said
Timothy Wells, vice president of
Sales, Economic & Business Development, AEP. "Last year our
team facilitated and supported 160 projects in AEP's service
territory. We look forward to continuing this positive momentum as
we work with our partners to support the creation of jobs, tax
revenue and opportunity."
In 2020, AEP's economic and business development team helped
attract more than $2.7 billion in
capital investment and 10,870 new direct jobs in the company's
11-state territory. Highlights of AEP's work in 2020 include:
- Created a dedicated team that assisted more than 1,900 small
business customers in applying for relief programs during the
COVID-19 pandemic
- Leveraged technology to deliver web-based prospect site visits
and virtual economic training for partners
- Enhanced geographic information system capabilities to better
identify sites with available electric capacity and other important
site selection factors
- Established a reshoring and supply chain resiliency initiative
to help customers and suppliers as they look to relocate
manufacturing facilities back to the
United States or to identify more domestic sources within
their supply chains
- Supported efforts to expand broadband internet to rural and
underserved areas using the company's energy infrastructure
- Advocated for expanding electric vehicle infrastructure
Learn more about AEP's economic development strategy.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner,
brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP's
approximately 16,800 employees operate and maintain the nation's
largest electricity transmission system and more than 223,000 miles
of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable
power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is
one of the nation's largest electricity producers with
approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity,
including more than 5,600 megawatts of renewable energy. The
company's plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio
to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to
reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels
by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2050. AEP is
recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community
engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP's family of
companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power
(in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in
Tennessee), Indiana Michigan
Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power
Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas
Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides
innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more
information, visit aep.com.
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SOURCE American Electric Power