AEP Helps Suppliers Become More Competitive, Environmentally-Sensitive

Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power (AEP) has become the first electric utility to commit to the Green Suppliers Network (GSN) program as a corporate champion.  Through GSN, the utility is helping its suppliers become more competitive and environmentally sensitive.

GSN is a joint effort of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership within the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Through its pledge to be a corporate champion, AEP commits to:

• Engage five of its suppliers to complete the GSN technical review process within a year, aimed at identifying cost-effective process improvements and waste-elimination strategies for each supplier.
• Explore ways to recognize and reward suppliers who have completed GSN reviews and implemented appropriate recommendations.
• Provide resources to the suppliers, as appropriate and available, to implement these recommendations.

Thirty companies currently participate in GSN as either suppliers or corporate champions.  Companies can reap significant savings by implementing the recommendations.  A total of 49 technical reviews completed through the GSN program to date have identified potential annual savings of nearly $27 million.  More information about GSN is available at www.greensuppliers.gov.  For more information about AEP’s environmental activities, please visit:  www.aep.com

© 2008 Edison Electric Institute