Ohio's AEP Would Move From Coal to Renewables Under Proposed Deal

In a complex legal settlement with the Sierra Club, Ohio's American Electric Power Company would eventually convert three coal-burning plants totalling 1,500 megawatts to natural gas and bring online 900 megawatts of wind and solar.

"American Electric Power Company Inc. has reached a settlement on its closely watched income-guarantee plan in Ohio, including a major agreement with the Sierra Club, its leading opponent on the proposal.

The $17 billion Columbus utility on Monday signed a stipulation agreement with staff from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, following in the footsteps of peer utility FirstEnergy Corp.

But FirstEnergy didn't reach an agreement with the Sierra Club, whose Beyond Coal campaign has publicly blasted both utilities' proposals as financial 'bailouts.' The campaign's leader, Mary Anne Hitt, in September called Ohio a 'bellwether state' in the fight over the future of coal as a power source."

Tom Knox reports for Columbus Business First December 15, 2015.