BUZZ — AEP climbs on Google power pact, $4 bln investment

* Shares of US utility American Electric Power up over 1% at $127 premarket * Co says it plans to invest about $4 billion to advance a new 702-megawatt fuel-cell generation project in Wyoming to supply electricity to Alphabet's Google under a 20-year power purchase agreement * Under the agreement, Google will purchase power from Cheyenne Fuel Cell, which is about 92% owned by AEP, while funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners hold the remaining stake, AEP says * Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the facility slated to be fully operational by the end of 2028, AEP adds * Says the project will use fuel-cell technology developed by Bloom Energy and is intended to support Google's growing energy needs in the Cheyenne area * As of last close, AEP up 9% YTD (Reporting by Sumit Saha in Bengaluru) ((mailto:Sumit.Saha@thomsonreuters.com;)