Pjm Picks Partners For 300 Mile Midwest Electric Transmis…

Approval comes as one of the largest utilities in the United States doubles its contracted load forecast

Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection is sharing new details on a 300-mile-long electric transmission project that addresses what it deems “a critical infrastructure need in central Ohio.”

Jointly developed by Transource Energy (a partnership between American Electric Power Company (AEP) and Evergy) and FirstEnergy Transmission, the project will help meet rising electricity demand and support ongoing economic growth in the fast-growing Columbus region. The companies proposed the project through PJM’s 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) Open Window process last August. This week, they received approval from the PJM Board of Managers. PJM, the largest grid operator in the United States, coordinates the transportation of wholesale electricity across the 13-state region that includes Ohio.

The companies will jointly develop the project through the recently formed Grid Growth Ventures, LLC. This collaboration will leverage the companies’ collective expertise and resources to deliver comprehensive and cost-effective solutions that address the region’s growing power needs as more manufacturing facilities, data centers, and electric vehicles come online.

One Line to Rule Them All

The proposed project includes approximately 300 miles of new 765-kilovolt (kV) lines and upgrades to several substations to significantly increase service reliability and economic growth opportunities in the region. One 765-kV line can power two million homes; matching that output requires multiple lower-voltage lines and a right-of-way nearly two football fields wide. By consolidating power in a single corridor, 765-kV lines cut land use in half, reducing impacts on the local environment.

“AEP has an unrivaled history in 765-kV transmission development,” boasted Doug Cannon, president of AEP Transmission. “AEP has built and owns more extra-high voltage lines than any other company in the U.S. The project we’re undertaking with FirstEnergy addresses the rapidly evolving energy demand we are seeing across the region and will enable us to continue providing reliable service to our customers and facilitate economic growth by making sure access to power is available.”

Other benefits provided by the transmission project include:

• More reliable service and faster restoration during outages.
• Enhanced infrastructure to attract new businesses of all sizes and support the expansion of energy-intensive industries.
• A grid that’s ready for tomorrow’s energy needs.
• Improved access to an affordable power supply that helps keep energy costs stable for homes and businesses.

“Our transmission system is ideally situated at the center of regional growth, making it a powerful platform for economic development and energy reliability,” observed Mark Mroczynski, president of FirstEnergy Transmission. “Through Grid Growth, we’re building the kind of energy infrastructure that powers future generations of new businesses, good jobs, and vibrant communities.”

This strategic joint venture comes at a time when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is encouraging efficient and cost-effective regional transmission development. By working together, Transource and FirstEnergy Transmission believe they can leverage their strengths to deliver smarter solutions to meet the region’s power capacity needs.

AEP Doubles Load Forecast in Mere Months

AEP, one of the largest utilities in the U.S., turned heads earlier this month with a revised forecast that ly surprised anyone not paying close attention to the broader nationwide load-growth narrative.

The company announced it had expanded its large-load customer base through signed agreements for an additional 28 gigawatts (GW) of load since last October, bringing its incremental demand to 56 GW of new load by 2030. This incremental load has doubled since then.

Load in AEP Texas alone has increased from 13 GW to 36 GW, backed by signed letters of agreement with well-capitalized hyperscalers and mega-sized data center developers. AEP says it is committed to building the necessary transmission and distribution infrastructure in Texas and is partnering with ERCOT to bring these large loads online in a timely manner and within the regulatory construct. The implementation of Texas Senate Bill 6, AEP asserts, is expected to provide additional clarity and certainty on the timing of when these new loads will interconnect.

Additional opportunities expanding the company’s current $72 billion five-year capital plan include:

• $5 billion to $8 billion in additional transmission and generation projects. These include competitively awarded 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission projects selected by multiple regional transmission organizations, both inside and outside AEP’s service territory.
• AEP was proactive in securing Bloom Energy fuel cells, enabling participation in the development of a generation facility project in Wyoming, backed by $2.65 billion in fuel cell purchase commitments.

The investments needed to serve the additional 28 GW of load in the updated demand forecast are not included in AEP’s current capital plan or the $5 billion to $8 billion of additional investment.

AEP is also advancing multiple generation solutions to support incremental load growth. In 2025, AEP’s operating companies acquired 2.2 GW of new generation resources, which provide immediate access to needed generation in high-growth regions. AEP also secured more than 10 GW of gas turbine capacity from major manufacturers, and “strategic partnership agreements” that support AEP’s 765-kV development capabilities, enabling the company to connect new load to the grid.

American Electric Power reported fourth-quarter 2025 GAAP earnings of $582 million or $1.09 per , compared with GAAP earnings of $664 million or $1.25 per in fourth-quarter 2024. Operating earnings for fourth-quarter 2025 were $638 million or $1.19 per , compared with operating earnings of $660 million or $1.24 per in fourth-quarter 2024. AEP reaffirmed its 2026 operating earnings outlook of $6.15 to $6.45 per and its long-term operating earnings growth rate of 7% to 9%.

“We delivered an exceptional year in 2025, with strong financial performance enabling us to advance infrastructure investments that are driving sustained growth,” said Bill Fehrman, AEP chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “AEP is exceptionally well-positioned for the future with the scale and discipline to execute large-scale infrastructure projects needed to meet unprecedented customer demand in some of the highest-growth regions in the country. We remain committed to making investments that deliver long-term value while helping keep rates affordable for our customers.”

AEP Eyes Affordability, Fairness

AEP has been working with stakeholders to protect customers from the cost impacts of serving new large-load customers.

In 2025, new rate structures were approved for AEP’s operating companies in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, requiring large load customers to pay for the new infrastructure needed to connect to the grid. Similar proposals are under review in Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia and SWEPCO’s Texas service territory.

“AEP’s approach to large load customers is serving as a model for the industry,” Fehrman added. “Nearly two years ago, AEP proposed a first-of-its-kind rate structure to address the costs of connecting large customers to the grid. This approach is being adopted in states across the country. Through federal loans, state grants, innovative rate designs, and direct bill assistance, we are working to limit bill impacts while continuing to invest in the system. In addition to delivering safe and reliable power, we remain focused on affordability and protecting residential customers from increased costs.”