American Electric Power will engage university students in a dialogue about energy availability and security and related issues over the next two months. Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, plans to visit six campuses between Feb. 18 and April 30 as part of "The Future of Energy" University Listening Tour.
Morris will speak with students at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg on Feb. 18; University of Arkansas at Fayetteville on March 10; The Ohio State University in Columbus on April 2; Howard University in Washington, D.C., on April 7; Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, on April 9; and University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 30. Each visit will feature an extensive question-and-answer session following a brief presentation.
"The tour's purpose is to engage young people on college campuses across America in a discussion about what it will take to ensure our nation's energy security and address the deepening challenge of meeting growing demand for electricity while protecting the environment," Morris said.
"Too often, young voters feel marginalized on issues they care passionately about. Polls show that young people's confidence in our democracy and government is near an all-time low, yet volunteerism and civic participation are near all-time highs.
"We want to give attendees a chance to be heard," Morris said. "They are our future leaders, and their opinions may help AEP and our industry to chart a better course."
Morris joined AEP in January 2004. He had been chairman, president and chief executive officer of Northeast Utilities System in Connecticut from 1997 to 2003 and, before that, was president and chief executive officer of Consumers Energy and president of CMS Marketing, Services and Trading in Michigan. Morris also was president of Colorado Interstate Gas Co.; executive vice president of marketing, transportation and gas supply for ANR Pipeline Co.; and founder and president of ANR Gathering Co., one of the nation's first gas marketing companies.
His first position after graduate school was in the environmental department of Commonwealth Associates preparing environmental impact statements for electrical utility transmission lines, natural gas and oil pipelines and power plants.
