American Electric Power to Build $4 Billion Fuel Cell Plant

American Electric Power will invest approximately $4 billion to construct a 702-megawatt fuel cell generation facility near Cheyenne, Wyoming. The project will utilize Bloom Energy technology and integrate carbon capture to provide near-zero-emissions electricity to Google under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

AEP owns 92% of the project through Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC, while Basalt Infrastructure Partners holds the remaining stake. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the facility expected to be fully operational by the end of 2028.

The initiative supports Google's broader strategy to secure diverse energy sources for its artificial intelligence systems and data centers. This agreement follows previous power deals Google established with Fervo Energy for geothermal power and Constellation Energy for nuclear power.