American Electric Power has agreed to purchase up to 1.6 GW of Mainspring Energy's linear generators over the next eight years, with an initial 190-MW delivery expected next year. The deal could be worth up to $4 billion and allows AEP to buy roughly 200 MW annually. Mainspring says the units can be online within 12 months and are dispatchable, fuel-flexible generators that can run on natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen.
Separately, AEP said it plans to spend about $4 billion on a 702-MW Bloom Energy fuel cell project near Cheyenne, Wyoming, under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Google. Construction is expected to begin this year and the project to come online in 2028. The fuel cells produce electricity without burning natural gas, and the project includes carbon capture technology for near-zero-emissions power. AEP will own about 92% of the project, with funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners holding the rest.
The two announcements are separate but both reflect AEP's push to add generation quickly as power demand grows. The Mainspring deal is the company's largest purchase order to date and marks its entry into the investor-owned utility market, while the Wyoming project extends AEP beyond its traditional service territory. Both technologies are positioned as low-emission and dispatchable, offering flexibility to firm renewable energy and meet customer needs.