Alliant Energy Receives Go Ahead for Environmental Controls Project to Further Reduce Air Emissions From Columbia Energy Center

MADISON, Wis., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT), along with co-owners Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS) and Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE), received oral approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to install additional emissions reduction technology at the Columbia Energy Center located near Pardeeville, Wisconsin.

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This project is designed to reduce mercury (Hg) emissions through an activated carbon injection system and baghouse to comply with Wisconsin's mercury rule. It's also designed to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions through the installation of dry flue gas desulfurization systems. This equipment will provide flexibility in complying with state and federal SO2 emissions requirements such as the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), the EPA's proposed Clean Air Transport Rule (CATR) and the Clean Air Visibility Rule (CAVR).

WPL's share of the entire project is expected to cost approximately $290 million excluding AFUDC.

Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 412,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company's primary focus. Wisconsin Power and Light, the company's Wisconsin utility subsidiary, serves approximately 454,000 electric and 178,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., 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 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 "designed," "expected," "approximately," or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe emissions reductions or project costs 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: unanticipated construction issues, delays or expenditures; failure of equipment and technology to perform as expected; equipment or labor cost changes; current or future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries that could impede the implementation of WPL's plans; state or federal regulatory actions or local government actions; and economic conditions in WPL'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 WPL undertake no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Alliant Energy