Alliant Energy : October 19, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – October 19, 2009 – Cedar Rapids citizens are invited to get into the energy-efficiency groove by planting trees during fall planting events at Cherry Hill Park, Ushers Ferry and the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood, through a program called We Dig Your District.

We Dig Your District is a partnership initiative between Alliant Energy, Trees Forever, and local groups. Trees are planted in each of the five Cedar Rapids City Council districts to demonstrate how trees improve energy efficiency and contribute to a healthier community.

“Trees make our community beautiful and welcoming. They also help save energy by providing shade from the hot summer sun and a windbreak against harsh winter winds,” said Tom Aller, president of Interstate Power and Light, an Alliant Energy company. “The We Dig Your District initiative underscores our ongoing commitment to energy conservation and making Cedar Rapids a “cooler” place to live.”

The first We Dig Your District planting project at Cherry Hill Park is in cooperation with the Cedar Rapids Parks Department. A variety of shade and ornamental trees will be planted in Cherry Hill Park in the public green space. A brief ceremony and tree planting demonstration beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, will precede the planting and light refreshments and informational materials will be available. The event is open to the public. Cherry Hill Park is in Cedar Rapids District #4. A rain date is scheduled for Friday, October 23, at 1:00 p.m.

“Trees make our cities livable and are essential to our quality of life. Shade is critical along streets, at schools, in parks and at private residences. The cooler our communities, the less energy we use and the less impact we have on climate change,” says Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever president and CEO. “We dig your ideas, Cedar Rapids, and we appreciate your participation and commitment to the environment.”

Alliant Energy and Trees Forever have been in partnership for more than 17 years, promoting energy efficiency and enhancing the environment through tree planting. Since 1989, more than 5,000 trees have been planted through various planting projects throughout Cedar Rapids.

“The We Dig Your District initiative maintains this commitment,” adds Ramsay. ”These events are designed to celebrate the city districts and bring people together for community betterment.”

This is the fourth year for the We Dig Your District program. More than 200 trees have been planted since the program started in May 2006. The second tree-planting event in the We Dig Your District planting series this fall is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28 at Ushers Ferry beginning at 10:00 a.m. The final fall tree-planting event will take place in the Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood on Monday, November 2 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interested volunteers should meet at Metro High School.

Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization with a mission to plant and care for trees and the environment. Trees Forever has involved over 150,000 volunteers in projects that improve air and water quality, increase wildlife habitat, provide substantial energy savings and beautify our landscape.

Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1.5 million customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electricity and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Alliant Energy is the trade name of utility companies Wisconsin Power and Light Company and Interstate Power and Light Company.” Interstate Power and Light, the company’s Iowa utility subsidiary, serves 535,000 electric and 238,000 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.

Media Contacts:
(Alliant Energy) Nancy Craig, (319) 786-4788
(Trees Forever) Karen Brook, (319) 373-0650