Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a
subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT has announced a
partnership with Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc. (Prairie Lands) to
assess ways to create a commercially viable market for switchgrass or
other similar agriculturally based products to serve as a fuel source
for up to 10 percent of the power for the proposed 630 megawatt
Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4 in Marshalltown, Iowa.
As part of the assessment, Prairie Lands is evaluating the
potential environmental, economic and agricultural benefits of
switchgrass or other similar agricultural products. Prairie Lands
Bio-Products, Inc. is also identifying cost-effective and efficient
methods to collect, aggregate, process, and deliver the products to the
power plant.
"We are excited to partner with IPL and assist in developing a
fuel supply for this state of the art facility," said Bill Belden,
Manager of Prairie Lands. "The Prairie Lands Board of Directors is
gratified that IPL recognizes our contributions to the Chariton Valley
Biomass Project and has the confidence in our ability to develop and
deliver biomass fuel."
Prairie Lands' assessment will build upon the successful
switchgrass test burn demonstrations conducted during the Chariton
Valley Biomass Project (CVBP) in 2006. The CVBP, funded by IPL and the
United States Department of Energy, sought to investigate and
demonstrate the technical feasibility, environmental benefits and
potential business viability of growing switchgrass to replace a portion
of the coal fuel supply at the Ottumwa Generating Station in
Chillicothe, Iowa.
"We are pleased to partner with Prairie Lands on the
development of a renewables market that can power Sutherland Generating
Station Unit 4," states Tom Aller, president of IPL. "The
proposed power plant's hybrid technology creates economic
development opportunities, jobs and enables our company to permanently
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Iowa continues to grow its renewable
energy economy and the use of renewables as a fuel source in the
proposed power plant benefits our environment and economy. We look
forward to working with Prairie Lands Bio-Products in continuing to
position Iowa as a leader in renewable energy."
Prairie Lands expects to provide IPL with a study and assessment of
methods to develop a commercially viable market.
The 630 megawatt facility expects to be operational in 2013 and
would provide enough energy to power approximately 472,500 homes and
businesses. The facility's design consists of a hybrid technology,
which allows the facility to utilize switch grass, corn stalks or other
similar agriculturally based products for up to 10 percent of its fuel
source. As a result, IPL expects to reduce the amount of coal burned at
the facility. An additional 19 megawatt equivalent of steam cogeneration
will be available for use by nearby industries.
About Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries
serving approximately 1 million electric and 400,000 natural gas
customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated
electric and natural gas service is the company's primary focus.
Interstate Power and Light, the company's Iowa utility subsidiary
headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serves approximately 530,000
electric and 235,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy is a Fortune
1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT.
For more information, visit http://www.alliantenergy.com or call
319/786-4171.
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