We did two actions:

1) On Friday afternoon, student activists with Ohio Student Environmental Coalition and members of Mountain Justice Spring Break occupied the lobby of American Municipal Power and forced an impromptu meeting with CEO Mark Gerken – who was not a happy camper.

AMP is planning to build a 1000 MW pulverized coal power plant in Meigs County, Ohio – one of the most impoverished counties in the state, with some of the highest lung cancer and premature death rates due industrial pollution in the country. There are already 4 coal power plants within 10 miles of Meigs and the coal barons of the Midwest are planning on building five more – the largest and dirtiest being the AMP project.

Determined to put an end to this economic and social injustice, concerned Meigs residents have been working with student and youth activists to organize and empower communities to break out of the socio-economic slavery of king coal. Mountain Justice Spring Break - an event where many students, rather than spending their holidays in Florida or Cancun, have opted instead for more meaningful pursuits in building solidarity, developing consensus, discovering affinity and exploring nonviolent direct action - showcased this collaboration over this last week.

2) On Wednesday April 2nd, 5 students and youth in Columbus, Ohio participated/infiltrated a discussion held at OSU by Michael Morris, the CEO of American Electric Power, the largest electricity producing utility in the U.S.

The event was part of a series called The Future of Energy: University Listening Tour, which has been used to promote AEP, gain information about where young people stand on energy issues, and influence young voters. We grilled Morris on greenhouse gas reduction goals, conservation and efficiency, green jobs, nuclear, coal, and carbon capture and sequestration.