American Electric Power 2008 Corporate Sustainability Report

30 Public Policy future – but few more so than climate change. AEP’s climate change strategy and policy goals are outlined on Page 37. AEP will continue to participate in national and international dialogues and will work with all interested parties to adopt a federal climate change policy that adheres to our principles. We support federal legislation as opposed to state or regional regulation for several reasons. Climate change is a global issue and the nation can only play an effective role with a national approach; one set of regulations is the most efficient way to address the issue; and a nationwide policy will create economies of scale to best facilitate a greenhouse gas allowance cap-and-trade program. AEP, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the AFL-CIO support a provision in federal climate legislation that would require other nations – such as China and India – to buy international allowances if they export to the United States and have not taken comparable actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We strongly believe such a provision is important to protect and retain U.S. jobs by preventing a deployment of manufacturing overseas, where environmental costs oversight. We believe an interstate transmission highway is imperative to our nation’s energy future and we will work with the state and the federal government to advance this vision. Specifically, we advocate the federal government exercise jurisdiction over these EHV facilities (300 kV and higher), similar to how it regulates natural gas pipelines. OUR POLICY WORK AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL No one nation can solve climate change. Our goal is to build coalitions to develop, advocate and support policies that address climate change globally. In addition to ongoing support of the Asia-Pacific Partnership and the e8, we joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in 2007, an organization of approximately 200 companies globally that works toward sustainable development. We joined to be part of the world’s business leadership that is addressing these issues, to learn what others are doing, to share our progress and to further the progress of others. We worked with the WBCSD’s Electricity Utilities Sector Project to develop a road map for achieving a sustainable electricity future. We joined with nine global companies to prepare an analysis – Powering A Sustainable Future – that was discussed at length during the United Nations’ climate negotiations in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007. The report advocates international collaboration for public policies that support the: • development of new technology; • development of renewable energy alternatives; • energy efficiency programs to reduce demand; and • ensuring affordable electricity worldwide. OUR POLICY WORK AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL The development of a nationwide interstate extra-high voltage transmission system remains one of AEP’s primary public policy goals. could be avoided in non-participating countries. Incentives and tax breaks for deploying advanced technologies and increasing renewable energy resources are also important federal priorities. AEP supports a long-term extension of the federal Production Tax Credit for renewable energy resources. We also continue to lobby for tax credits that encourage investments in advanced technologies such as carbon capture and storage and advanced coal technologies. AEP supports development of a national interstate, extra- high voltage (EHV) transmission system – similar to our interstate highway system. We believe the best way to develop this system is through federal encouragement and AEP owns more than 39,000 miles of transmission lines in

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of American Electric Power 2008 Corporate Sustainability Report

American Electric Power 2008 Corporate Sustainability Report Contents Leadership, Management & Strategy A Message from Michael G. Morris A Message from Dennis E. Welch About This Report Environmental Performance Work Force Issues Public Policy Climate Change Energy Security, Reliability & Growth Stakeholder Engagement Glossary GRI Table of Contents

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.