COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 19, 2000 – An educator at a suburban elementary school attributes a remarkable increase in students’ math and science proficiency test scores to the American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) solar education Internet-based program.

Learning from Light allows students to track the energy output of solar cell panels mounted at Bluffsview Elementary School in Worthington, and AEP is hopeful the program’s success will be duplicated in a similar online program that monitors the amount of electricity being generated by 10-kilowatt wind turbines installed at several AEP sites.

AEP developed the international Learning from Light program in partnership with the Foundation for Environmental Education, federal and state governments and local communities. Solar panels were installed in the fall of 1998 at Bluffsview, the first Ohio school in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roof program. The Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency is financially assisting installations in the state.

By going to the Internet and clicking on http://www.aep.com/environmental/solar, students worldwide are able to see the energy demands of the Bluffsview school and the amount of energy supplied by the panels.

Karen Groff, an assistant to the principal at Bluffsview, said the staff integrated the web site’s technology into the curriculum and developed hands-on situations designed to encourage students to develop questions, explore their ideas and construct meaning.

“Our students’ math and science scores improved remarkably from 1996 to 1998, when the solar panel project was initiated,” Groff said. “Among fourth-grade students, science scores improved by 25 percent, and math scores were up by 5 percent. Our sixth grade students showed similar improvement, increasing their science scores by 13 percent and math scores by 18 percent.

“During this same time period, the percentage of proficient students remained relatively constant throughout the state, and Bluffsview’s rate of growth far exceeded that of any school in the district,” Groff said. “Our students are engaged in learning that is fun and exciting, and the lessons they are learning today can be used to create a better tomorrow.”

Dale Heydlauff, AEP’s vice president of environmental affairs, said the company is inspired by the program’s success and encourages other schools to participate in the program.

“AEP values education and is proud to take an active role in giving children some of the technical and analytical skills they will need to be successful throughout their lives. We congratulate Bluffsview students and teachers for their hard work and commitment and will continue to develop other programs such Learning from Light and Learning from Wind, AEP’s wind turbines program,” Heydlauff said.

Learning from Wind is a similar education program using wind turbines to help students and customers learn about wind technology. AEP is installing five small turbines and sharing real-time information about their operation and performance on its web site at www.aep.com/environment/wind.

The first wind turbine was recently installed at the Dolan Technology Center in Groveport, about 12 miles southeast of Columbus. Additional turbines are planned in Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia and Michigan.

Wind turbines, the successor to the windmill, convert the wind’s energy to electricity. In some areas, a 10-kilowatt turbine can generate enough electricity to power the home of an average AEP customer. The cost of a wind turbine similar to the model used in this project starts at about $27,000.

The web site will monitor the output of the turbines in weak and strong wind areas and is designed as an information tool for customers who may consider buying a wind turbine. AEP’s Internet-based energy management system allows viewers to observe how much electricity the wind turbines are generating and compare it to the amount of power typically required for a household or business.

Power quality statistics will be shown, helping customers with sensitive electronic equipment understand the impact of wind generation on power quality. Links to sites that offer more comprehensive information on wind turbines are also accessible through the web site.

A 30-minute television documentary produced by the Foundation for Environmental Education will feature AEP’s wind turbines program later this year on public television and will be distributed to most U.S. school districts and the public.

AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States´ largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.