COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Electric Power's (Nasdaq: AEP) 287-megawatt (MW) Maverick Wind
Energy Center in north central Oklahoma has begun commercial operation.
Located southwest of Enid,
Oklahoma, Maverick is one of three wind projects that
compose the North Central Energy Facilities, which will provide
1,485 MW of clean energy to customers of AEP's Public Service
Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) subsidiaries.
In addition to Maverick, North Central Energy Facilities include
the 199-MW Sundance project, which began commercial operation in
April 2021, and the 999-MW Traverse
project, which is expected to begin operation in early 2022. The
projects will save PSO and SWEPCO customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma an estimated $3 billion in electricity costs over the next 30
years. Invenergy is developing the North Central Energy Facilities,
and PSO and SWEPCO assume ownership of each of the three wind
projects following their commercial operation.
"Maverick's commercial operation brings us one step closer to
the completion of North Central and to delivering more clean,
reliable energy to our customers," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and
chief executive officer. "North Central's three wind projects will
create enough energy to power 440,000 homes and will be a valuable
asset in AEP's generation portfolio as we work to add nearly 16,600
megawatts of regulated wind and solar resources through 2030."
The combined North Central wind projects represent a
$2 billion investment in the U.S.
economy through jobs in manufacturing, construction, operations and
maintenance, in addition to generating property tax revenue and
lease payments for landowners.
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