<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.10


                                                                  EXECUTION COPY



                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


                                     between


                                AES RED OAK, INC.
                                   as Pledgor


                                       and


                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                               as Collateral Agent


                            Dated as of March 1, 2000

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     PAGE
                                                                                     ----
<S>    <C>                                                                           <C>
1.     DEFINITIONS....................................................................3
2.     PLEDGE.........................................................................3
3.     REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS......................................4
4.     DEFAULT........................................................................6
5.     RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT......................................6
6.     SECURITY INTEREST ABSOLUTE.....................................................6
7.     PLEDGOR REMAINS LIABLE.........................................................6
8.     NO DUTY ON COLLATERAL AGENT'S PART.............................................7
9.     NOTICES........................................................................7
10.    WAIVER.........................................................................7
11.    TIME OF ESSENCE................................................................7
12.    BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS........................................................7
13.    CAPTIONS.......................................................................7
14.    GOVERNING LAW, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL......................7
15.    AMENDMENTS, CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS..........................................8
16.    SEVERABILITY...................................................................8
17.    COLLATERAL AGENT NOT LIABLE....................................................8
18.    LIMITATION OF RECOURSE.........................................................8
19.    COUNTERPARTS...................................................................9
20.    CONTINUING ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE AND SECURITY INTEREST............................9
21.    SECURITY ONLY..................................................................9
22.    PAYMENTS SET ASIDE.............................................................9
       ANNEXES

</TABLE>

                                         i

<PAGE>

                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


         This PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "PLEDGE AGREEMENT"), dated
as of March 1, 2000, by and between AES RED OAK, INC., a corporation
organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
"PLEDGOR") and The Bank of New York, a bank duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York ("BNY"), as collateral agent (together with
its successors in such capacity, the "COLLATERAL AGENT") for the benefit of
and on behalf of the Senior Parties defined below.

         A.   AES RED OAK, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized and
              validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
              "COMPANY") is providing for the development, construction,
              ownership, leasing and operation of a nominal 830 MW (net)
              gas-fired combined cycle electric generating facility and
              related equipment and facilities (the "PROJECT") to be located
              in the Borough of Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

         B.   The Company intends to finance the development and construction
              of the Project, in part, through the issuance, from time to
              time, of certain securities (the "SECURITIES") pursuant to a
              Trust Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2000 between the Company
              and BNY, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE") and depositary bank, as it
              may be amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from
              time to time (the "INDENTURE").

         C.   In connection with the commencement of commercial operation of
              the Project, the Company is required to deliver the Debt
              Service Reserve Letter of Credit (the "DSR LETTER OF CREDIT").
              Dresdner Bank AG, acting through its New York Branch
              ("DRESDNER"), as issuing bank, has agreed to issue the DSR
              Letter of Credit subject to the terms and conditions contained
              in the DSR LOC  Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of March 1,
              2000 (as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from
              time to time, the "DSR LOC REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT"), among
              each of the banks and financial institutions parties thereto
              and Dresdner, as issuing bank and as agent for such banks
              including the issuing bank and financial institutions (in such
              capacity as agent, and together with its successors and assigns
              in such capacity, the "DSR LOC PROVIDER").

         D.   In connection with the Company's obligations under Section 18.2
              of the Power Purchase Agreement, the Company intends to deliver
              the Power Purchase Agreement Letter of Credit (the "PPA LOC").
              Dresdner, as issuing bank, has agreed to issue the PPA LOC
              subject to the terms and conditions contained in the PPA LOC
              Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2000 (as amended,
              supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time, the
              "PPA LOC REIMBURSEMENT Agreement"), among each of the banks and
              financial institutions parties thereto and Dresdner, as issuing
              bank and as agent for such banks and the

<PAGE>

              issuing bank and financial institutions (in such capacity as
              agent, and together with its successors and assigns in such
              capacity, the "PPA LOC PROVIDER").

         E.   The Company intends to finance certain working capital
              requirements of the Project by entering into a Working Capital
              Agreement (as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect
              from time to time, the "WORKING CAPITAL AGREEMENT") among the
              Company, each of the banks and financial institutions party
              thereto and Dresdner, as agent bank (together with its
              successors and assigns in such capacity, the "WORKING CAPITAL
              PROVIDER").

         F.   All  obligations of the Company under the  Securities, the DSR
              LOC Reimbursement Agreement and related evidences of
              indebtedness, the PPA LOC Reimbursement Agreement and related
              evidences of indebtedness, the Collateral Agency Agreement
              (defined below), and the Working Capital Agreement and related
              evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the "FINANCING
              DOCUMENTS") to the Trustee, the DSR LOC Provider, the PPA LOC
              Provider, the Collateral Agent, the Working Capital Provider,
              each successor to any such person and any person providing
              Senior Debt to the Company who becomes a party to the
              Collateral Agency Agreement in accordance with its terms
              (collectively, the "SENIOR PARTIES") will be secured by a
              certain Mortgage, the Security Agreement, the Indenture, this
              Pledge Agreement and the Assignment of Leases and Income, each
              between the Company and the Collateral Agent.

         G.   The Collateral Agent, the Company, the DSR LOC Provider, the
              PPA LOC Provider, the Working Capital Provider and the Trustee
              entered into the Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement
              dated as of March 1, 2000 (as amended, supplemented or modified
              and in effect from time to time, the "COLLATERAL AGENCY
              AGREEMENT") to set forth their mutual understanding with
              respect to (a) the exercise of certain rights, remedies and
              options by the respective parties thereto under the above
              described documents, (b) the priority of their respective
              security interests created by the Security Documents, (c) the
              application of project revenues and certain other monies and
              items and (d) the appointment of the Collateral Agent as
              collateral agent.

         H.   On the Closing Date, the Pledgor owns 100% of all of the
              ownership interests of the Company.

         I.   In order to better secure the benefits of the other Collateral
              subject of the Security Documents, the Pledgor has agreed to
              pledge the ownership interests of the Company owned by the Pledgor
              from time to time.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above,
the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
and FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING the payment and performance of the Senior
Debt, which Senior Debt may increase, decrease and increase again, from time
to time, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                     2

<PAGE>

         1. DEFINITIONS. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
capitalized terms used in this Pledge Agreement and its Annexes shall have
the meaning given to them in the Indenture and the rules of construction set
forth in Section 1.1. of the Indenture shall apply herein as if set forth in
this Pledge Agreement.

         2. PLEDGE. (a) As security for the full payment or performance when
due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of any and all
of the Senior Debt now existing or hereafter arising, the Pledgor hereby
grants, pledges and collaterally assigns to and creates in favor of the
Collateral Agent, a lien on (the "SECURITY INTEREST") in all estate, right,
title and interest of the Pledgor in, to and under the following collateral,
whether now existing or hereafter acquired (the "LLC COLLATERAL"):

                        (i) the ownership interests in the Company and to the
         extent any of the following shall now or hereinafter exist any
         certificates identified in Annex I hereto and all other ownership
         interests of whatever class in the Company, now or hereafter owned by
         the Pledgor, in each case together with the certificates evidencing the
         same (collectively, the "PLEDGED INTERESTS");

                       (ii) to the extent any of the following shall now or
         hereafter exist, all shares, securities, moneys or property
         representing a dividend on any of the Pledged Interests, or
         representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect of
         the Pledged Interests (a "DIVIDEND"), or resulting from a split-up,
         revision, reclassification or other like change of the Pledged
         Interests or otherwise received in exchange therefor, and any
         subscription warrants, rights or options issued to the holders of, or
         otherwise in respect of, the Pledged Interests; provided, however, that
         such Security Interest in any Dividend shall not apply to, or to the
         extent such Security Interest is then existing, shall be released
         without any notice or required action from, such Dividend once such
         Dividend is distributed from the Distribution Account in accordance
         with the terms of the Collateral Agency Agreement and is no longer an
         asset of the Company;

                      (iii) without affecting the obligations of the Pledgor or
         the Company under any provision prohibiting such action hereunder, in
         the event of any consolidation or merger in which the Company is not
         the surviving entity, all shares owned by the Pledgor of each class of
         the capital stock of the successor entity formed by or resulting from
         such consolidation or merger;

                       (iv) to the extent not included in the foregoing, all
         proceeds, products and accessions of and to any and all of the
         foregoing, including, without limitation, "proceeds," as defined in the
         Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York (the "UCC"), including
         whatever is received upon any collection, exchange, sale or other
         disposition of any of the LLC Collateral, and any property into which
         any of the LLC Collateral is converted, whether cash or noncash
         proceeds, and any and all other amounts paid or payable under or in
         connection with any of the LLC Collateral; it being understood that the
         Security Interest in the proceeds, products and accessions of and to
         any LLC Collateral shall not apply to, or to the extent such Security
         Interest is then

                                     3

<PAGE>

         existing, shall be released without any notice or required action
         from, such LLC Collateral once such LLC Collateral is distributed
         from the Distribution Account in accordance with the terms of the
         Collateral Agency Agreement and is no longer an asset of the Company.

         (b) This Pledge Agreement secures, in accordance with the provisions
hereof, the Senior Debt.

         (c) The Collateral Agent and the Pledgor acknowledge and agree that
remedies, if any, that may be exercised from time to time hereunder during
the continuance of a Trigger Event under the Collateral Agency Agreement,
will be exercised by the Collateral Agent subject to, and in accordance with,
the terms of the Collateral Agency Agreement.

         3. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. The Pledgor hereby
represents, warrants and covenants as follows:

         (a) The Security Interest granted and created pursuant to this
Pledge Agreement is a legal and valid security interest in the LLC Collateral
now owned by the Pledgor or hereafter acquired.

         (b) The Security Interest granted and created pursuant to this
Pledge Agreement (i) with respect to such of the LLC Collateral in which a
security interest may be perfected by the filing of a Financing Statement,
will, upon the filing of the necessary Financing Statements in all
appropriate jurisdictions, create a perfected security interest in the LLC
Collateral now owned by the Pledgor or hereafter acquired in which a security
interest may be perfected by filing; and (ii) with respect to such of the LLC
Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by possession, will,
upon the Collateral Agent's taking possession of such LLC Collateral, create
a perfected security interest in such LLC Collateral now owned by the Pledgor
or hereafter acquired in which a security interest may be perfected by
possession.

         (c) The Pledgor shall cause (i) the organizational documents in
respect of the formation of the Company and (ii) the certificates
representing the Pledged Interests in the Company to each recite that such
organizational documents and Pledged Interests shall be governed by Article 8
of the UCC.

         (d) The Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the LLC
Collateral now owned by it, free and clear of all Liens.

         (e) The Pledgor shall notify the Collateral Agent promptly in
writing of any claim against the LLC Collateral adverse (other than to a DE
MINIMIS extent) to the interest of the Collateral Agent hereunder.

         (f) The Pledgor agrees that from time to time upon the request of
the Collateral Agent, the Pledgor will, at its sole cost and expense,
promptly execute and deliver all further instruments and documents, and take
all further action, which may be necessary or reasonably advisable, or that
the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in writing, in order to perfect,
maintain,

                                     4

<PAGE>

preserve and protect the Security Interest granted or purported to be granted
hereby. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Pledgor will:
(i) if any LLC Collateral shall be evidenced by a promissory note or other
instrument, deliver and pledge to the Collateral Agent hereunder such note or
instrument duly endorsed and accompanied by duly executed instruments of
transfer or assignment, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
the Collateral Agent, and (ii) execute and file such financing or
continuation statements, or amendments thereto and assignments thereof, and
such other instruments, endorsements or notices, as may be necessary, or as
the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in writing, in order to perfect,
maintain, preserve and protect the Security Interest granted or purported to
be granted hereby. The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to file
one or more financing or continuation statements, and amendments thereto and
assignments thereof, relating to all or any part of the LLC Collateral
without the signature of the Pledgor where permitted by law.

         (g) The Pledgor shall keep and maintain, at its sole cost and
expense, satisfactory and complete records of the LLC Collateral. The Pledgor
shall furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time statements and
schedules further identifying and describing the LLC Collateral and such
other reports in connection with the LLC Collateral as the Collateral Agent
may reasonably request in writing, all in reasonable detail.

         (h) The Pledgor shall not create, incur or permit to exist, and will
defend the LLC Collateral against, and shall take such other action as is
necessary, to remove any Lien or claim on or to the LLC Collateral and will
defend the right, title and interest of the Collateral Agent in and to any of
the LLC Collateral against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever
(other than any Person party to the Financing Documents). In furtherance
thereof, the Pledgor agrees (i) not to enter into a "control agreement" with
or grant "control" (within the meaning of the UCC) to any Person other than
the Collateral Agent in respect of any of the LLC Collateral that constitutes
"uncertificated securities" (within the meaning of the UCC) or (ii) not to
cause the Company to register any transfer of any of the LLC Collateral that
constitutes "uncertificated securities" (within the meaning of the UCC) to
any Person other than the Collateral Agent.

         (i) The principal place of business and chief executive office of
the Pledgor and the office where the Pledgor keeps its records concerning the
LLC Collateral, including the registration book in which all ownership
interests of the Company and pledges and transfers thereof are recorded
(hereinafter, collectively called the "RECORDS") is located at the Pledgor's
address for notices set forth in the signature pages hereto.

         (j) The Pledged Interests are duly authorized, validly existing,
fully paid and non-assessable and none of such Pledged Interests are subject
to any contractual restriction, or any restriction under the organic
documents of the Company, upon the transfer of such Pledged Interests (except
for any such restriction contained herein).

         (k) The Pledged Interests constitute all of the issued and
outstanding shares of ownership interests of any class of the Company
beneficially owned by the Pledgor on the date hereof (whether or not
registered in the name of the Pledgor).

                                     5

<PAGE>

         (l) The Pledgor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding ownership
interests of the Company as of the date hereof.

         4. DEFAULT. The occurrence and continuation of a Trigger Event under
the Collateral Agency Agreement shall be deemed an "EVENT OF DEFAULT" under
this Pledge Agreement:

         5. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. The remedies of the
Collateral Agent following an Event of Default hereunder or otherwise are set
forth in the Collateral Agency Agreement and the exercise of such remedies,
if any, shall be done by the Collateral Agent as, when and to the extent
permitted thereunder.

         6. SECURITY INTEREST ABSOLUTE. All rights of the Collateral Agent
hereunder, the Security Interest and all obligations of the Pledgor
hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

                        (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the
         Collateral Agency Agreement or any other agreement or instrument
         relating thereto;

                       (ii) any change in the time, manner or place of payment
          of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Senior Debt, or any
          other amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the
         Collateral Agency Agreement or any of the LLC Collateral;

                      (iii) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any LLC
         Collateral or any other collateral, or any release or amendment or
         waiver of or consent to or departure from any guaranty, for all or any
         of the Senior Debt; or

                       (iv) to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other
         circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or
         a discharge of, the Pledgor or any third party pledgor.

         7. PLEDGOR REMAINS LIABLE. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding but subject to Section 18 hereof, the Pledgor shall remain
liable under any agreements included in the LLC Collateral to the extent set
forth therein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the
same extent as if this Pledge Agreement had not been executed. The exercise
by the Trustee or the Collateral Agent of any of the rights or remedies
hereunder shall not release the Pledgor from any of its duties or obligations
under any agreements included in the LLC Collateral, except to the extent the
Pledgor is expressly released therefrom by the Trustee or the Collateral
Agent in writing. The Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or
liability under the LLC Collateral by reason of this Pledge Agreement, nor
shall the Collateral Agent be obligated to perform any of the obligations or
duties of the Pledgor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce
any claim for payment assigned hereunder, except to the extent the Collateral
Agent expressly assumes such obligations or duties in writing consistent with
its rights under this Pledge Agreement.

                                     6

<PAGE>

         8. NO DUTY ON COLLATERAL AGENT'S PART. The powers conferred on the
Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect the Collateral Agent's
interests in the LLC Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to
exercise any such powers. The Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for
amounts that it receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and
neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be
responsible to the Pledgor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except
for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

         9. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given and
deemed to have been given in accordance with the Collateral Agency Agreement.

         10. WAIVER. By exercising or failing to exercise any of its rights,
options or elections hereunder (without also expressly waiving the same in
writing), the Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have waived any breach
or default on the part of the Pledgor or to have released the Pledgor from
any of its obligations secured hereby. No failure on the part of the
Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising (without also
expressly waiving the same in writing), any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further
exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

         11. TIME OF ESSENCE. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE WITH RESPECT TO THIS
PLEDGE AGREEMENT AND ALL OF ITS PROVISIONS.

         12. BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS. This Pledge Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted
assigns of each of the parties hereto.

         13. CAPTIONS. The captions, headings and table of contents used in
this Pledge Agreement are for convenience only and do not and shall not be
deemed to affect, limit, amplify or modify the terms and provisions hereof.

         14. GOVERNING LAW, LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. (a)
THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES THEREOF RELATING
TO CONFLICTS OF LAW EXCEPT SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
LAW).

         (b) Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Pledge
Agreement and any action for enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof
may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States
of America for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and
delivery of this Pledge Agreement, the Pledgor hereby accepts for itself and
in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and appellate courts from any appeal
thereof. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers CT
Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York,

                                     7

<PAGE>

New York, 10011, as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and
acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of
any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents which may be served
in any action or proceeding. If for any reason such designee, appointee and
agent shall cease to be available to act as such, the Pledgor, agrees to
designate a new designee, appointee and agent in The City of New York on the
terms and for the purposes of this provision satisfactory to the Collateral
Agent. The Pledgor irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any
of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing
of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, in
accordance with Section 9. The Pledgor hereby irrevocably waives any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of
the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with
this Pledge Agreement brought in the courts referred to above and hereby
further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court
that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought
in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of the
Collateral Agent to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to
commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against the Pledgor in any
other jurisdiction.

         (c) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND
INTENTIONALLY WAIVES THE RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF
ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS PLEDGE AGREEMENT AND ANY AGREEMENTS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY TO BE EXECUTED
IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING,
STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF EACH PARTY. THIS
PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES ENTERING INTO THIS PLEDGE
AGREEMENT.

         15. AMENDMENTS, CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS. This Pledge Agreement may
not be effectively amended or terminated except with the written consent of
the Pledgor and the Collateral Agent.

         16. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Pledge Agreement that is
prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized in any jurisdiction shall, as to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition,
unenforceability or non-authorization, without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of
such provision in any other jurisdiction.

         17. COLLATERAL AGENT NOT LIABLE. Neither this Pledge Agreement nor
any action on the part of the Collateral Agent (other than an express written
assumption) shall constitute an assumption by the Collateral Agent of any of
the obligations of the Pledgor related to any of the LLC Collateral, and the
Pledgor shall continue to be liable for all such obligations whether incurred
before or after an Event of Default.

         18. LIMITATION OF RECOURSE. In the event of non-performance by the
Pledgor under this Pledge Agreement, or any part thereof, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect

                                     8

<PAGE>

thereof or related thereto or in respect of the Securities or otherwise
related thereto, no recourse shall be had to (i) any assets or properties of
the Pledgor (or any person that controls the Pledgor within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) other
than the LLC Collateral or (ii) any Affiliate of the Pledgor or any
incorporators, officers, directors or employees thereof, and no judgment
relating to the obligations of the Pledgor under this Pledge Agreement, or
any part thereof, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect
thereof or related thereto, shall be obtainable by the Senior Parties or the
Collateral Agent against any Affiliate of the Pledgor or any other
incorporator, stockholder, officer, employee or director past, present or
future of the Pledgor or any Affiliate of the Pledgor; provided, however,
that nothing contained herein shall prevent the taking of any action
permitted by law against the Pledgor or any of its Affiliates, or in any way
affect or impair the rights of the Collateral Agent or Senior Parties to take
any action permitted by law, in either case to realize upon the LLC
Collateral and, provided further, that nothing herein shall be deemed to
affect the obligations of any Affiliate of the Pledgor under any Transaction
Document to which such Affiliate is a party.

         19. COUNTERPARTS. This Pledge Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

         20. CONTINUING ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE AND SECURITY INTEREST. This Pledge
Agreement shall create a continuing assignment, pledge and security interest
in the LLC Collateral and shall remain in full force and effect for the
benefit of the Collateral Agent until the satisfaction in full of the Senior
Debt. Except as set forth in Section 22 hereof, upon the payment in full of
the Senior Debt and all other amounts owing to the Collateral Agent under the
Financing Documents, the Security Interest granted hereby shall terminate and
all rights to the LLC Collateral shall revert to the Pledgor. In connection
with such termination, the Collateral Agent shall execute such instruments of
release prepared by the Pledgor as the Pledgor shall reasonably request at
the Pledgor's sole cost and expense.

         21. SECURITY ONLY. This Pledge Agreement is granted for security
purposes only. Accordingly, the Collateral Agent shall not enforce its rights
with respect to the LLC Collateral until such time as an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.

         22. PAYMENTS SET ASIDE. To the extent that the Pledgor or any other
Person on behalf of the Pledgor makes a payment or payments to the Collateral
Agent, or the Collateral Agent enforces its security interests or exercise
its rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such
enforcement or setoff of any part thereof are subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be
repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law,
state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of
such recovery, the Senior Debt or any part thereof originally intended to be
satisfied, and this Pledge Agreement and all Liens, rights and remedies
therefor, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such
payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                     9

<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Pledge
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

                                    AES RED OAK, INC.



                                    By: /s/ PATRICIA L. ROLLIN
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Name:    Patricia L. Rollin
                                        Title:   Vice President
                                        Address: 1001 North 19th Street
                                                 Arlington, VA  22209




                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Collateral Agent



                                    By: /s/ MARYBETH LEWICKI
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Name:   MaryBeth Lewicki
                                        Title:  Vice President




                         [PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]

<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX I

       See attached.


                      Stock Certificate of AES Red Oak, L.L.C.
                                  Ten (10) Units
                           Registered to AES Red Oak, Inc.




                                     I-1

<PAGE>

                                    ANNEX II
                                       to
                          PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
                            DATED AS OF MARCH 1, 2000


                               FORM OF STOCK POWER


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, AES RED OAK, INC., a
corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, does hereby sell, assign and transfer to
___________________________________ ten (10) Common Shares of AES RED OAK,
L.L.C. (the "Company"), a limited liability company organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Stock"), standing in
the name of the undersigned on the books of said company and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ _________________
as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney, for it and in its name and
stead, to, as and to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 2.3 of the
Collateral Agency and Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2000,
among the Company, The Bank of New York, in its various capacities as
described therein and Dresdner Bank AG, acting through its New York Branch,
in its various capacities as described therein (the "Collateral Agency
Agreement"), sell, assign and transfer all or any of the Stock, and for that
purpose to make and execute all necessary acts of assignment and transfer
thereof; and to substitute one or more persons with like full power, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney or substitute or substitutes
shall lawfully do by virtue hereof in accordance with the provisions of the
Collateral Agency Agreement.

Dated:


                                        AES RED OAK, INC.



                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:



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