Alliant Energy's First Owned-And-Operated Wind Facility In Iowa Begins Operation

With construction completed, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, has initiated commercial operation of its first owned-and-operated wind farm in Iowa. The Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East in Franklin County, Iowa, is capable of generating up to 200 megawatts of emissions-free wind energy for its customers - enough to power approximately 50,000 homes.

"This is an important day for our company, electric customers and the environment as we continue to strive to meet the increasing demand for green energy," said Bill Harvey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer for Alliant Energy. "We believe the addition of Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East to our renewable energy portfolio moves us further down the path to a greener energy future."

The company expects that over the next 20 years, the Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East will offset approximately 2 million tons of carbon dioxide, 2,600 tons of nitrogen oxides, 7,000 tons of sulfur dioxides and .5 ton of mercury. The carbon dioxide avoided is the equivalent of taking approximately 309,000 standard-size automobiles off the road each year.

"Our investment in Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East helps us balance the need to provide affordable energy to our customers while at the same time making sure we're utilizing new technologies to reduce our impact on the environment," said Tom Aller-President, IPL. "We are extremely grateful to the community leaders and residents of the Franklin County for their tremendous support throughout this process.

"We're also proud and excited that the addition of this wind farm keeps Iowa in a leadership position for megawatts of wind installed in the U.S.," said Aller. According to the American Wind Energy Association, Iowa is currently ranked second in wind capacity installed.

Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East consists of 121 wind turbines spread out over 144 square miles in Franklin County, Iowa. Construction on the wind farm began in the fall of 2008.

Building on its long-term commitment to renewable energy, Alliant Energy's subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), plans to add an additional 200 megawatts of wind power to its portfolio during 2011 at its Bent Tree Phase I project in Southern Minnesota.

SOURCE: Interstate Power & Light Company