American Electric Power

The Political Economy Research Institute ranks American Electric Power number 40 of the 100 greatest air polluters in the U.S.

In 2009, AEP CEO Michael Morris contributed [pdf] $100,000 to Newt Gingrich's American Solutions for Winning the Future, which supports increased oil drilling and opposes mandatory limits on greenhouse gas pollution.

In 2007, AEP paid the largest environmental settlement in Justice Department history for violating the Clean Air Act. On October 8, 2007, AEP agreed to install $4.6 billion in equipment to reduce emission, as well as pay a $15 million civil fine.

AEP spent $4.8 million on lobbying in the first half of 2010.  The company spent over $7.2 million on lobbying in 2009, and over $11.2 million in 2008.

Over $2 million in AEP donations have gone to politicians from the 2004 election cycle to the present.  60% of AEP political recipients are Republicans, and most of the hightest Democrat beneficiaries are from coal-producing states.

American Electric Power's interests are also pushed through the is a member of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a publicity front group for the coal industry heavily embedded in the climate denial machine. ACCCE spent over $12 million on political lobbying from 2008-2010.

AEP owns more coal ash ponds labeled as high hazard by the EPA than any other company.

AEP was the defendent in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of states, environmental groups and New York City against major emitters for their contributions to global warming.  The suit, American Electric Power v Connecticut, was opposed by the Obama administration.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) that passed in the U.S. House in 2009, which included many favors for the coal industry, was encouraged by tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to House members from AEP's political action committee.