AEP Energy to purchase all output from 50 MW Columbus Solar Park

With a signed letter of intent, AEP Energy Partners has signaled a desire to purchase all 50 MW of energy output from the BQ Energy Development, LLC, developed Columbus Solar Park in Ohio.

The Columbus Solar Park should be operational by December 2022 and bring with it the ability to power approximately 5,000 homes. AEP will use that power to address its customers’ renewable energy desires and meet potential renewable energy needs in Columbus, specifically, if an aggregation initiative is passed. The park is being built on the site of a former landfill owned by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio.

“The Columbus Park Solar will bring a significant renewable energy generation resource to the local power distribution network for the City of Columbus,” Paul Curran, managing director of BQ Energy Development, said. “As the residents of Columbus consider the bold step of increasing their use of renewable energy, it will be important that they have confidence that the amount of local generation of that clean power is really there.”

AEP Energy, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is based in Columbus, Ohio, and Chicago, but operates in 28 service territories spread across six states and Washington, D.C. It supplies electricity and natural gas to more than 500,000 residential and business customers.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with BQ Energy to bring more clean, renewable energy to our customers, “ Greg Hall, president of AEP Energy, said. “The Columbus Solar Park project fits well with AEP’s commitment to sustainability and the communities we serve, and turning a former landfill into a solar facility is a win-win for the environment and Central Ohio.”