New Report Underscores AEP Role in Global Warming Problem

NEW REPORT UNDERSCORES AEP ROLE
IN GLOBAL WARMING PROBLEM

(Washington, DC, April 5, 2006) – A new report today by two non-profit groups underscores the major role played by Ohio-based American Electric Power in the global warming problem.

The report notes that AEP produces more heat-trapping carbon dioxide than any other power company in the nation.

The study was released one day after the company’s chairman, president and CEO Michael G. Morris appeared before a U.S. Senate panel and reiterated the company’s long-standing opposition to mandatory new limits on global warming pollution.

In stark contrast to AEP, some other big power companies have begun calling for mandatory greenhouse gas limits.

The report, “Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States 2004,” was released by the Ceres investor coalition, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (PSEG), one of the electric power generation companies included in the report.

The study notes that electric power companies are not only the biggest source of carbon dioxide in the nation, but are projected to be the fastest-growing. It also includes a detailed comparative analysis of the 100 companies.

“AEP carries the dubious distinction of being number one when it comes to creating global warming pollution,” noted Frank O’Donnell, president of the non-profit Clean Air Watch.
“Morris talks a good game about the problem, but when push comes to shove, he and his company stonewall any effort in Congress to require mandatory global warming pollution limits,” O’Donnell said. He noted that Morris argued in favor of so-called voluntary limits just yesterday in a global warming conference held by the Senate Energy Committee.
Ceres President Mindy S. Lubber noted today that “voluntary approaches for curbing greenhouse gas emissions are not working.”

The report notes that the top three power producers in the U.S. – AEP, Southern Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority – collectively produce nearly one-fifth of the carbon dioxide emissions from the top 100 companies.

It also points out the huge disparity in emission rates among the companies. For example, although AEP produced seven times more electricity than PG&E, the company was responsible for 109 times the CO2 emissions.

The full report is available online at http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/benchmarking/