Electric Energy T&D - Index

Electric Energy T&D - EE Magazine March / April 2009 - Index

LightsOn
Information Technology: A Guide to Environmental Compliance for AEP
TM
emissions, and the United States Congress
has discussed a national program for several
years. Statistics show that power generation
in the United States is a significant
contributor to U.S. emissions. The U.S.
Department of Energy’s Energy Information
Agency (EIA) reports that electric power
generation is the biggest source of energyrelated
greenhouse gas emissions with 39.8
percent of the United States’ total energyrelated
emissions in 006.
As utilities manage the already rigorous
process to track, reduce and report emissions
such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
mercury – and ultimately brace to add carbon
dioxide – IT systems can help. Today’s ITbased
solutions can more comprehensively
account for carbon emissions, which is
critical as more companies consider setting
greenhouse gas reduction targets. AEP
already set targets through its participation
in the Chicago Climate Exchange. The
company is also implementing an IT system
that AEP’s executives believe will help them
streamline recordkeeping and track progress
toward reduction goals.
Determine Where You Are; Set Your
Destination
Many utilities openly state their general
sustainability intentions. But AEP takes
its commitment even more seriously by
setting and announcing specific emission
reduction targets and timelines. In 003,
AEP announced its commitment to reduce
or offset a cumulative 46 million metric tons
of carbon dioxide by 010 from a 1998
– 001 baseline. By the end of 007, the
company had already reduced or offset
43 million metric tons of CO . Part of that
reduction includes substantially reducing
leakage of sulfur hexafluoride, a potent
greenhouse gas, from transformers. And
AEP has planned power plant efficiency
improvements to reduce greenhouse gas by
more than 400,000 tons per year by 010.
AEP soon will be able to measure its
achievements toward these goals and meet
compliance reporting requirements with a
high degree of ease and accuracy with an
environmental information management
system that puts reports and data into the
hands of each employee who needs them. Its
workers will use the system to better manage
greenhouse gas reporting and Clean Air Act
and Clean Water Act permit and compliance.
With accurate and accessible emissions data
figure 2: AEP’s Emissions Record Under Chicago Climate Exchange Program
16 I March-April 2009 Issue
and analysis, companies can set reasonable
targets. When employees understand the big
picture, they can meet reporting and permit
requirements and hopefully also have the
information they need to take steps toward
meeting the company’s greenhouse gas
management goals.
In addition to required compliance reporting
and other outside pressures, AEP also
completed a major merger in 000, which
meant combining IT systems and operating
procedures. The company – and the entire
industry – faces changing and more complex
regulatory agency reporting requirements as
well as complex data in growing amounts
from multiple sources and outdated
processes for accessing compliance-related
information.
Much of AEP’s compliance data and
reporting processes reside in the brains of
plant staff and on computer hard drives, with
varying processes and technology in place to
capture it. Executives know that valuable
data and knowledge is at risk of being lost
as workers retire in the coming years. How
can new staff and the rest of the company
manage increasingly complex compliance
requirements without valuable historical
knowledge? The new AEP compliance system
will help address these and other reporting
challenges.
Track and Report Your Path
Once a utility determines its emissions goals
and knows where they are today, IT tools can
track progress and keep workers on the right
path. IT systems provide consistent and
automated reporting using up-to-the minute
requirements and documented compliance
processes for water, air and other required
reporting – all securely accessible to any
worker who needs the information.
As an example, AEP launched a new project
in 007 called M.E.S.H. – Managing
Environment, Safety and Health. With
the goal to standardize the company’s
compliance management approach, AEP
also added an IT component called iMESH.
The project includes efforts to enhance
the company’s environmental compliance
measurement and reporting.