AEP files comments on EPA’s Clean Power Plan

(Story by Tammy Ridout)

AEP Dec. 1 filed 400 pages of comments and documentation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

AEP’s comments address the critical need for a thorough assessment of the Clean Power Plan’s impact on electric grid reliability.

AEP’s comments focus on the significant flaws in assumptions and data the EPA used to develop the four building blocks of the proposed rule. The comments address the critical need for a thorough assessment of the rule’s impact on electric grid reliability. AEP’s comments also discuss the need for states to have enough time and flexibility to develop and implement emission reduction plans that make sense for their resource mix and economies, and the need to maintain a balanced, diverse mix of fuels for electricity generation in the United States.

In the comments, AEP calls for a less prescriptive rule with more realistic targets and timelines. AEP believes the EPA must give states additional time to develop compliance plans, eliminate the 2020 interim goals, and allow enough time to build the transmission lines, pipelines and new generation facilities needed to maintain the reliability of the grid.

“I’d like to thank our team of talented employees who came together for the past six months to share their expertise and help review and analyze this complicated proposal to develop our comments and suggested changes to the rule,” said Nick Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. The EPA is expected to issue its final rule in June 2015, and AEP will continue to be engaged in the process, Akins said.

“A big thank you also goes out to the 5,200 employees, contractors, retirees, shareholders, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders who answered the call and submitted comments to the EPA and members of Congress on the proposed rule. Your engagement and support makes a huge difference in our efforts to help the EPA and lawmakers understand the impacts of this proposal,” Akins said.

“We stand ready to work with the states, the administration, Congress and our customers to develop a common-sense approach to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining reliable, affordable electricity to fuel the U.S. economy,” Akins said.