Mayor Ginther, City and Partners Kick-Off Community Choice Aggregation
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, along with other city, energy and
community leaders, announced the selection of a preferred electricity supplier,
kicking off the community choice aggregation initiative as part of the city’s
goal for 100% clean energy by 2022 and to be carbon neutral by 2050.
“Community choice aggregation and a commitment to 100%
clean, renewable energy will transform our energy future and are key components
to helping us achieve environmental justice and equity, so that all residents
in central Ohio – and our children and generations to come - are protected from
the impacts of climate change,” said Mayor Ginther. “This effort will drive workforce
development and job creation in the clean-energy sector for our city, region
and the whole state of Ohio.”
Community choice aggregation allows local governments to
procure power from an alternative supplier on behalf of their residents and
small businesses, who haven’t chosen a supplier, while still receiving
transmission and distribution service from their existing electric distribution
company. In Columbus, most residents are served by AEP Ohio as the electric
distribution company.
The City held a public, competitive bidding process this
summer to select a preferred generation supplier for the intended aggregation
program. AEP Energy was selected as the preferred supplier due to their ability
to meet the goal of 100% clean, renewable energy from local renewable
resources, as well as their commitment and innovation around shared community
values. Those values include an understanding of the City’s larger
sustainability goals around emissions reduction and energy efficiency;
importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion; opportunities for workforce
development; and partnership with other local organizations. Residents will
continue to receive electric distribution service and a single bill from AEP
Ohio.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the
City of Columbus to develop an innovative program that will power the city with
100 percent renewable energy and support the City’s overall environmental and
social goals, including helping ensure that all Columbus residents benefit from
clean energy investments,” said Scott Slisher, Chief Solutions Officer, AEP
Energy and President, AEP OnSite Partners.
“With more than 73 wind and solar projects in 23 states
including Ohio, AEP’s competitive affiliates are experienced renewable energy
developers and already have agreements in place to supply Google and the
Columbus Regional Airport Authority, among others, with 100 percent renewable
energy. Based in Columbus, AEP Energy’s nearly 230 Central Ohio employees serve
over 500,000 customers including 86 other Ohio communities through aggregation
programs. We look forward to partnering with and serving the City of Columbus,
one of the nation’s most sustainable and innovative cities,” Slisher said.
Trebel, the City’s energy consultant for aggregation, helped
select AEP Energy and is assisting the City in all aspects of implementing the
intended aggregation program. Trebel has successfully implemented over 157
aggregations behind nine different utilities, using eight different suppliers
in Ohio.
The City of Columbus placed community choice aggregation on
the November 3, 2020, ballot in order for residents to have the opportunity to
vote on a 100% clean energy community choice aggregation program. Participation
in community choice aggregation is voluntary, and residents can opt-out at any
time.
The City is committed to sourcing clean energy as locally as
possible which will aid in transforming Ohio’s energy landscape. According to
the U.S. Energy Information Administration, only 11 percent of electricity in
Ohio was powered by wind and solar last year. The City’s aggregated demand for
energy will total approximately 1,700,000 MWH, making it the largest energy
load and demand in Ohio. AEP Energy proposes to add over 600 MW of wind and
solar generation in Ohio to serve Columbus citizens.
“Electric aggregation is essentially collective bargaining
for energy purchasing. By banding together, the residents of Columbus have more
collective power than they do on their own. Using this power we have a huge
opportunity to provide competitive electricity rates, move towards 100%
renewable energy sources and help support clean energy jobs in our region. I
look forward to working with AEP Ohio to achieve these goals.” said Columbus
City Councilmember Rob Dorans.
Columbus City Council will hold a virtual public hearing on
the community choice aggregation process on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at
5:30 p.m.