American Electric Power is one of 10 international electric utilities and the only U.S.-based utility participating in a project of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that is designed to promote the achievement of a sustainable electricity future. The WBCSD Electricity Utilities Sector Project released its interim report "Powering a Sustainable Future: Policies and Measures to Make it Happen" today at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Bali.

Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, signed the report along with executives representing ABB Limited, EDF Group, CLP Holdings, Eskom Holdings, Kansai Electric Power Co., Suez, Gaz de France, Statkraft and Toyko Electric Power Co.

"As the leading U.S. utility in taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it makes sense for AEP to represent the U.S. electricity sector in this international effort to support sustainability for electricity producers," said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The power sector currently is responsible for 41 percent of worldwide global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, and projections are that electricity demand will double by 2030. It is critical that we put in place policies worldwide that support development and deployment of new technologies and measures that make electricity consumption more efficient and electricity supply less carbon intensive."

The interim report of the WBCSD Electricity Utilities Sector Project focuses on how utilities worldwide can harness the full potential of low-carbon options for power generation and consumption. The report identifies technologies that are already mature for commercial implementation and discusses those that will require additional support for deployment. The report also identifies policies and measures that will be necessary to achieve the full decarbonization of the electricity sector, including support for reinforcing the world's transmission and distribution grids and expanding the use of more energy-efficient building practices and appliances.

As part of the WBCSD Electricity Utilities Sector Project, participating companies committed to taking action to reduce their carbon footprints through: accelerating investment in low-carbon technology development and deployment; continued work to reduce the carbon intensity of their electricity generation and improve the efficiency of their operations; collaborating with government and other stakeholders to drive research and development; and engaging with customers to improve end-use efficiency.