Sutherland Generating Station Back to Powering Iowa Homes and Businesses After Historic Floods

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Storms and the subsequent flooding impacted approximately 2,600 customers in theMarshalltown area.

The Iowa River crested approximately four feet above flood stage on June 10 and June 13, 2008. The Sutherland Generating Station, located approximately one-quarter mile from the Iowa River, did receive minor damage to the facility when water levels in the power plant's basement reached approximately four inches. The power plant's main turbine floor was not affected. After the floodwaters receded, crews worked to assess, repair and inspect the facility prior to bringing the facility back online. The power plant's electrical system and motors were inspected and repaired as necessary.

Floodwaters caused moderate damage to the facility's railroad tracks, train unloading operations, coal handling system, fuel tanks for combustion turbines. Flood levels reached approximately two feet in the coal yard, and all underground pits were full of water. Major restoration work was completed on the railroad tracks and train unloading operations. The facility started receiving and unloading coal trains on June 23, 2008.

"Our employees rose to the challenge of bringing the power plant back online as quickly and safely as possible," stated William Ku -- plant manager -- Sutherland Generating Station. "Whether it was sandbagging as the floodwaters rose or helping in the clean-up and repair efforts as the floodwaters receded, our employees did an outstanding job of meeting these challenges. In the coming weeks, we will continue to make repair and rebuild the facility's infrastructure impacted by the flooding."

The company expects to have a flood damage cost estimate after restoration efforts are complete across itsIowa service area.

"We are extremely proud of our employees' efforts to get the Sutherland Generating Station back online," said Tim Bennington -- vice president -- Generation. "Their efforts made a difference as a fully operational Sutherland Generating Station strengthens the reliability of our electric system as we enter the summer electric demand period."

"This was a team effort and our company appreciates theCity of Marshalltown's support during these unprecedented times," stated Tom Aller -- president -- IPL. "Our company is strongly committed to the original Sutherland Generating Station Unit 4 site plan. The new power plant's site is located above the 500 year flood plain. However, in the coming weeks, our crews will assess where the flooding occurred and make any modifications to the proposed site as appropriate. The new power plant site was not significantly impacted by the historic floodwaters in the community and reaffirms our decision to locate the new facility inMarshalltown. We remain steadfast in our commitment to building a hybrid generating facility in Marshalltown that we expect will provide all of our electric customers with safe, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service."

For additional flooding information, please visit http://www.alliantenergy.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements can be identified as such because the statements include words such as "expect" or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future plans or strategies are also forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Actual results could be affected by such factors as: ability to receive coal shipments and store coal when shipped; ability to access, inspect and assess flood-damaged assets; state or federal regulatory actions or local government actions, including inability to obtain all necessary approvals and permits; failure of equipment and technology to perform as expected; unsuccessful negotiations with potential utility partners for co-ownership or purchased power arrangements; inability to find additional partners; and economic conditions in IPL's service territory. These factors should be considered when evaluating the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof and Alliant Energy and IPL undertake no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

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 andMinnesota utility subsidiary, 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 the company's Web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com.

SOURCE Alliant Energy Corporation

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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: Oil, Gas and Energy, Utilities, , iowa, minnesota

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