June 27, 2003—American Electric Power (AEP) has posted a report of its environmental performance and achievements during the past two years online.
“Toward Environmental Excellence” highlights AEP’s efforts and accomplishments in protecting and improving the environment in 2001 and 2002 as governed by the company’s five environmental tenets: Accountability, Sustainability, Leadership, Compliance, and Risk Management.
A few of the report’s findings include:
- In 2001-2002, the company received seventy-four notices of violations of federal or state environmental regulations and paid $92,250 in fines. Remedial actions are being taken at cited facilities, including reclaiming land at surface coalmines that accounted for all but two of the notices.
- AEP continues to comply with the Clean Air Act and has reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from its coal-fired power plants. To comply with new federal regulations, the company has installed selective catalytic reduction technology at a number of its major coal-fired power plants.
- Recently, AEP voluntarily agreed to cap and reduce or offset its greenhouse gas emissions as a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange.
- AEP is leading a project through the non-profit e7 group of leading global electricity companies to install wind turbines to offset diesel generation on the Galapagos Islands. AEP and its national and local partners have helped communities install over 335 kilowatts of solar power systems at more than 125 schools in the United States.
The information is based on the Electric and Gas Industries survey created by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies.
