Alliant Energy Wind Development Positioned for Growth
Oct 04 - PRNewswire-FirstCall
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Energy officials announced today that the extension of renewable energy production tax credits (PTC) -- part of the new family tax cut bill to be signed in Des Moines today by President Bush -- will allow its utilities to proceed with plans to add 230 megawatts (MW) of wind generation to its already substantial renewable portfolio. The bill will also allow Alliant Energy's WindConnect(TM) division to resume the development of wind energy projects in locations all over the country.
"Extension of the PTC is welcome news for Alliant Energy," says
Frank Greb, General Manager - Wind Business Development. "Uncertainty
surrounding the extension had brought the company's wind energy development
business to a standstill, but today's action will allow Alliant Energy to affirm
its strong commitment to being a leader in renewable energy."
While the PTC awaited passage in Congress for several months, Alliant Energy
executives looked for assistance from U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa),
whose strong leadership ultimately enabled the provision to move forward.
"Senator Grassley's work to advance initiatives in energy will protect and
create more jobs in our wind energy business," says Greb.
Alliant Energy's WindConnect(TM) division has built a strong nationwide
reputation for its superior work with wind farm developers in designing,
engineering and constructing the electrical infrastructure for wind power
facilities. The realization that there was a need not only to build wind farms,
but for specialists with the knowledge to connect them to the grid, opened the
door to projects in Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee to name a
few.
In December 2003, Alliant Energy announced plans to add 1,600 MW of
generation to its portfolio, including 230 MW of wind generation in its Iowa and
Wisconsin service territories. At year end 2003, Alliant Energy was already
providing its customers with nearly seven percent of the total wind capacity in
the United States.
"As part of our commitment to provide our customers with safe, reliable,
cost-effective, environmentally-friendly power, wind energy continues to be an
important energy source to our company," states Kim Zuhlke, Vice President
- New Energy Resources.
The company continues to receive proposals from landowners who wish to
partner with Alliant Energy to develop wind energy facilities. Several proposals
are currently being reviewed.
In July 2004, Alliant Energy and several of its wind development partners
joined Iowa's Governor Tom Vilsack at the dedication ceremony of the Flying
Cloud Wind Farm in Spirit Lake, Iowa, where the governor celebrated his
declaration of Wind Energy Week in Iowa. During the event, Zuhlke presented a
scholarship check from the Alliant Energy Foundation to Iowa Lakes Community
College (ILCC) to support students in ILCC's new Wind Energy and Turbine
Technology program. With the PTC extension, Zuhlke and Greb hope to partner with
ILCC again to offer internships to students in the program.
Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider that serves more than three
million customers worldwide. Providing its regulated customers in the Midwest
with electricity and natural gas service remains the company's primary focus.
Other key business platforms include the international energy market and
non-regulated domestic generation. Alliant Energy is a Fortune 1000 company
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more
information, visit the company's web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com/
.
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Alliant Energy
CONTACT: Media, Risa Shipley, +1-319-786-7685, or Investor Relations,Becky
Johnson, +1-608-458-3267, both of Alliant Energy
Web site: http://www.alliantenergy.com/