AEP Ohio is moving forward with an innovative project that will provide onsite power generation at two high-demand data centers in Central Ohio after receiving approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). This project provides a powerful example of how AEP Ohio is staying ahead of growing energy needs, supporting Ohio’s evolving economy and keeping our promise of providing safe and reliable energy to all of our customers.
The project is the first under AEP’s agreement with Bloom Energy to provide energy to large-scale users.
AEP Ohio will install onsite fuel cells at facilities operated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Cologix. The fuel cells provide the energy that allows these data centers to begin operations quickly, while the electric grid grows to support their needs.
Bloom systems provide energy through chemical reactions from solid oxide fuel cells and natural gas. Under these long-term agreements, AWS and Cologix will cover the full project costs.
This project also provides immediate solutions while AEP Ohio continues to make long-term investments to expand and strengthen the region’s energy delivery system.
“This is a great example of how we can innovate to meet the moment,” Marc Reitter, AEP Ohio president and COO, said. “We’re helping power the future of Ohio’s economy while staying true to our core responsibility — delivering safe, reliable service to every customer we serve.”