What type of renewable energy is represented by the RECs purchased by AEP Ohio?
Methane from solid waste landfills is the renewable energy represented by the RECs. Solid waste landfills contain significant amounts of organic materials that produce a variety of gaseous products when dumped, compacted, and covered in landfills. One of the products produced in the decomposition of the organic materials is methane, the primary component of natural gas. Landfill gas facilities capture the methane, which otherwise would be released into the atmosphere, and use it to generate electricity. According to the United States Department of Energy, this process allows landfills to significantly reduce their emissions of methane and avoid the need to generate energy from fossil fuels, thereby reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants from fossil fuel combustion. Is the program voluntary? Yes, this voluntary program is available to all of AEP Ohio’s metered customers located in Ohio, excluding Percentage of Income Payment Plan c
