AEP’s $78 Billion Grid Plan Spurs Data Center Hopes
AEP lifted its five-year capital plan to $78 billion after signing 7 gigawatts of new large-energy project agreements, with 90% of 63 gigawatts of expected incremental load by 2030 tied to data centers; shares recently traded at $127.27, up 26.9% over 52 weeks, with analysts’ mean price target at $142.76, as investors weigh execution risks and a new data-center rate structure.