TULSA, Okla., Mar. 13, 2008 – The American Electric Power Foundation has pledged to donate $150,000 over the next three years to the “ReGreening” effort in Tulsa.  The donation will help achieve the ReGreen Tulsa goal of 20,000 trees planted by December 2010.
 
The ice storm of December 2007 devastated Tulsa’s tree population and has prompted concerns about the color of spring 2008.  The ReGreen Tulsa campaign is led by Mayor Kathy Taylor, Tulsa’s Tree Advisory Committee and Up With Trees, a local non-profit organization.
 
PSO president and chief operating officer, Stuart Solomon, said “The ice storm of 2007 was destructive for all of us, and devastated the trees in our community.  I am grateful that the AEP Foundation has recognized this historic event in the lives of Oklahomans and is joining the initiative to restore the beautiful tree population in Tulsa.”
 
ReGreen Tulsa’s goal of 20,000 trees focuses on the two most devastated areas - neighborhoods and parks - and encompasses both private property and public areas.  The initiative includes education on which tree varieties are best suited for Tulsa soil and climate and the correct way to plant a tree.  Tips also include strategic tree planting that can help lower energy costs and how to avoid common problems caused by trees, like electrical outages, clogged sewers and cracked foundations. For more information including a seminar schedule, visit www.regreentulsa.com.
 
The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and its utility operating units. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.
 
The Foundation’s areas of focus include special emphasis on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education, protecting the environment, providing basic human services in the areas of hunger, housing, health and safety, and enriching life through art, music and cultural heritage. 
 
The Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio. 
 
PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), is an electric utility company serving approximately 520,000 customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma.  Based in Tulsa, PSO has more than 4,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is the largest provider of wind energy in the state.  News releases and other information about PSO can be found on the World Wide Web at PSOklahoma.com.