Second Nature™ for Your Home
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alliant Energy's Second Nature™ program?
Second Nature is a voluntary program that allows Alliant Energy electric customers to support electricity generated from renewable resources. This displaces electricity generated by other methods, including coal and natural gas.
How does Second Nature help protect the environment?
By encouraging the growing demand for renewable energy today, we can start to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
When just one household participates in Second Nature at the 100 percent level, the annual carbon dioxide emission reduction is 6.9 metric tons. That is the environmental equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1.4 passenger cars or planting more than 1.7 acres of pine trees.*
*U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator using the average residential customer usage 9,600 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
Calculate your potential environmental impact
Second Nature means fewer fossil fuels are consumed, more valuable energy resources are available for future generations, and air quality is improved for all.
What impact has Second Nature had so far?
During 2008, Second Nature participants supported over 58 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy.
How many customers participate in the program?
In 2008, more than 17,000 residential customers enrolled in Second Nature.
What types of renewable energy does Second Nature include?
Second Nature currently contracts with a landfill gas facility, an anaerobic digester and small solar providers in Wisconsin, wind farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, and a solar energy initiative in Iowa.
How is the energy delivered to my home?
Whether it comes from renewable sources or conventional sources, all electricity flows into a single energy pool. When you flip a switch, you draw electricity out of this pool.
- Your electric meter measures the kilowatt-hours you use each month. We divide this by your Second Nature participation level (25%, 50% or 100%) to figure how much green energy you require.
- Next we combine your requirement with other Second Nature customers to get the month's total green requirement.
- Then we make sure we're bringing enough new green energy into our energy pool to meet the total green requirement.
- This additional green energy comes from Second Nature resources, above and beyond Alliant Energy's standard sources. As electricity comes into the energy pool from these renewable resources, it displaces electricity that would otherwise come from sources like coal, gas and nuclear.
- What this means is, every time you use Second Nature, you directly increase demand for renewable energy, and reduce demand for non-renewable energy. And we make sure we meet that demand by bringing new green energy into the energy pool.
Why does renewable energy cost more?
Facilities that use renewable resources to generate electricity are currently very expensive to build and operate.
Increased customer demand for renewable energy should lead to the development of more renewable resources like wind and solar, as well as lower prices.
Where will my money go?
Approximately 80 percent of your participation fees go to purchase the more expensive renewable energy itself. A portion is earmarked to educate and inform the public about the importance of renewable energy sources.
Any remaining revenue will be reinvested in future development of additional renewable resources or facilities.
Is my participation in Second Nature tax-deductible?
No - participants are not technically making a “donation.” They are paying more for a more expensive product - renewable energy.
What systems are in place to ensure that my contribution is being used wisely?
The Second Nature program is Green-e® Energy certified. Green-e Energy was established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions to provide information and an objective standard for consumers to compare renewable energy options, and to verify that consumers get what they pay for.
For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, call 1-888-63-GREEN or log on to www.green-e.org.
In addition, state regulatory agencies have given their approval of the financials and record keeping for the program. They will provide the same level of scrutiny as they do over all the utility rates and programs.
Why did Alliant Energy create Second Nature?
Alliant Energy launched Second Nature in response to increased customer interest in reducing dependence on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, as well as a growing public awareness of the benefits of using renewable resources to generate electricity.
By taking this step to meet and encourage the growing demand for renewable energy today, we can reduce the reliance on limited resources while improving and preserving the environment for future generations.
Does Alliant Energy make any money from this project?
State regulatory agencies set the return that we can earn for our shareholders. We are allowed the same return on renewable power as we are on other types of power plants. It is not a guaranteed return, only an allowed return.
Does Alliant Energy partner with other renewable energy organizations?
Alliant Energy's Second Nature is proud to partner with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-RENEW) and Renew Wisconsin, non-profit organizations promoting the use of renewable energy and energy conservation in Iowa and Wisconsin homes, farms, businesses and schools.
Together, Second Nature and these organizations are helping to make renewable energy a reality.
Isn't Alliant Energy required to include renewable energy in its generation?
Yes. However, the Second Nature renewable energy program involves energy that goes above and beyond any mandated by the regulatory agencies.
Any additional renewable energy generation added as a result of this program will also be above and beyond that which is required.
Why can't all customers help pay instead of just those who request it?
As a regulated utility, Alliant Energy must provide your electricity at the lowest cost possible. Renewable energy is not the lowest-cost generation.
The fair way is to purchase electricity generated from renewable resources for people who voluntarily choose to buy it. Those who value low cost above all else can choose not to participate.
If you’re a Wisconsin electric customer with a qualifying photovoltaic installation, find out how you can become a Second Nature solar power provider.
Enroll in Second Nature today
To be eligible, you must be a residential electric customer of Alliant Energy, residing in Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesota.
Enroll in Second Nature online through Your Account
Your participation will begin with your next billing cycle. Please note that enrollment may take up to eight weeks, depending on when your billing cycle begins and ends. Any changes to your participation become effective with the next practicable billing cycle.
Brochures and fact sheets:
Support the Growth of Renewable Energy in Wisconsin [PDF]