AEP Selects Jacobs, WSP for $37B Transmission Program
American Electric Power (AEP) has selected Jacobs and WSP USA to support its $37 billion transmission investment program across 11 U.S. states.
Jacobs will work on AEP’s seven-state eastern portfolio, while WSP USA will support the four-state western portfolio. The firms’ contract values were not disclosed; $37 billion represents AEP’s planned systemwide investment.
The program allocates approximately $17 billion to regional transmission organization-driven projects, $11 billion to reliability improvements and $9 billion to customer-specific transmission. AEP also plans to nearly triple its 765-kV network mileage, expanding its existing high-voltage infrastructure. Read more about the development of the 765-kV grid network.
AEP reported 15 GW of new load commitments in the third quarter and expects incremental contracted load to reach 84 GW by 2031. Data centers, including cryptocurrency customers, account for 92% of that expected load. Related coverage examines KONČAR Group’s contribution to transmission network expansion.
“Our integrated delivery model will help AEP standardize and scale project delivery across its growing portfolio,” said Jacobs Chair and CEO Bob Pragada.
Source: Engineering News-Record (ENR)
