State Regulators Reject AEP Solar Farm Deal

Utility regulators have nixed a deal between American Electric Power Co. and a massive solar farm planned near Zanesville, putting the project's future in jeopardy. An official from the Columbus-based utility says they’re disappointed in Wednesday’s ruling by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Regulators said the utility hadn't demonstrated how the Turning Point project benefited ratepayers or why it was necessary to meet its renewable energy requirements. The solar farm planned near the wildlife conservancy called The Wilds was expected to create hundreds of jobs and produce enough electricity to power 25,000 homes. It was unclear if AEP would request another hearing before state utility regulators.