(SeaPRwire) –   GAHANNA, Ohio, March 20, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Energy, SB Energy, and AEP Ohio have announced plans for multi-billion-dollar investments in advanced digital and energy infrastructure aimed at supporting data center expansion and fostering economic growth in Appalachian Ohio. These proposed investments include the development of new 765-kilovolt (kV) electric transmission infrastructure to serve data center growth at the former gaseous diffusion plant site in Piketon, Ohio, where a 10-gigawatt data center campus is envisioned. SB Energy has committed to funding the $4.2 billion in new transmission infrastructure, thereby preventing an increase in transmission rates for Ohio residents. AEP Ohio anticipates that power will be delivered to the site starting in 2029.

“Ohio is experiencing some of the fastest electricity demand growth in the nation, driven by data centers. AEP Ohio is proud to have brought together our experienced team, the U.S. Department of Energy and SB Energy to develop this framework, and we celebrate the potential this investment has to help Pike County and Appalachian Ohio grow,” said Marc Reitter, AEP Ohio president. “The new transmission facilities are essential to powering this project and will unlock billions of dollars in regional investment. I am especially proud that our teams were able to develop a plan that supports economic development while protecting our ratepayers from the costs associated with this new infrastructure.”

AEP was a pioneer in the adoption of 765-kV transmission technology in 1969, which enabled more efficient electricity delivery to customers. Since then, AEP has become the nation’s leading operator of 765-kV transmission lines, managing lines both within and beyond its service territory. The company has established the country’s largest transmission network, possessing and operating more high-voltage lines than any other utility. The 765-kV lines are highly capable, able to transmit six times the energy of a 345-kV line.

Initial planning for the transmission line routes is currently in progress, and AEP Ohio is preparing to engage with community members and landowners to gather their input. The Ohio Power Siting Board will oversee the permitting process for any new transmission lines, which mandates public consultation, environmental impact assessments, and socioeconomic and land use analyses.

AEP Ohio and SB Energy will collaborate with regulators and stakeholders to provide further details on the projects and the proposed cost-recovery mechanisms in forthcoming regulatory submissions.

About AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio, headquartered in Gahanna, Ohio, is a division of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio supplies electricity to 1.5 million customers across 61 counties. News and information regarding AEP Ohio are available at AEPOhio.com.

About AEP
American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is dedicated to enhancing the lives of its customers by providing reliable and affordable power. The company anticipates investing $72 billion between 2026 and 2030 to improve customer service and meet the increasing energy demands of its communities. Its nearly 17,000 employees manage and maintain the nation’s most extensive electric transmission system, spanning 40,000 line miles, in addition to over 252,000 miles of distribution lines that deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also among the largest electricity generators in the country, with approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse owned and contracted generating capacity. The company prioritizes safety and operational excellence, aims to create value for its stakeholders, and fosters opportunity within its service territory through economic development and community engagement. Its family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (serving Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (operating in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas, and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which offers innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.

 

SOURCE AEP Ohio