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In the Summer 2007 issue: |
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This spring, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL)'s Second Nature program received Green-e certification, joining the Iowa and Minnesota programs which have been Green-e-certified since 2004. Green-e certification is provided by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a nonprofit, independent, third-party verification agency. In addition to a semiannual compliance review, your Second Nature program also goes through an annual verification process with CRS to ensure that the program procures enough renewable energy to meet customer demand. |
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“As the early adopters of renewable energy, all of our Second Nature customers now have the assurance that the renewable energy we purchase on their behalf meets the high standards established by CRS,” says Janice Mathis, product manager of the Second Nature Program. “We hope this achievement motivates more of our customers to join Second Nature and take advantage of the opportunity to reduce their carbon dioxide impact.”
The Second Nature program, introduced in 2001, purchased over 42 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy in 2006 on behalf of its more than 13,000 residential and business participants. The wind, landfill gas, and solar energy that Second Nature purchases comes from renewable facilities located in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We are pleased that Alliant Energy now provides Green-e certified renewable electricity to its Wisconsin customers,” said Michael Vickerman, executive director of the renewable energy advocacy group RENEW Wisconsin. “More and more people are coming to understand that the health of the planet can be greatly affected by their energy decisions, and they want to do the right thing for the environment. Subscribing to a high-quality program like Second Nature is for many customers a simple yet powerful way to make sustainable energy a bigger part of everyday life.”
Recognize the Green-e logo? This symbol is an easy way for you to identify products or companies that are certified for generating or purchasing renewable energy. When you see the Green-e logo, it's a guarantee that when you use that product or service, you'll be supporting renewable energy.
Only two percent of electricity in the United States is currently generated from renewable sources, but the Center for Resource Solutions, the national nonprofit organization that administers the Green-e program, works to increase that number by supporting renewable, clean resources like biomass, solar, geothermal, and wind power.
The goals of the Green-e program include bolstering consumer confidence in the reliability of renewable energy generation; expanding the market for renewable energy products and renewable energy generation; providing customers with information to make well-informed purchasing decisions about “green” electricity products; and supporting the use of products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize pollution.
To earn Green-e certification, a product or company must meet the Green-e National Standard. It must provide full customer disclosure and agree to a Code of Conduct. Annual verification is conducted to make sure that the company continues to generate and support renewable energy and that it meets its claims.
There are a couple of ways to purchase Green-e certified renewable energy. One is to purchase renewable energy directly from a utility company, like you do through Alliant Energy's Second Nature program. For larger purchases, the other option at this time is renewable energy certificates (RECs). Both alternatives offset the amount of conventional energy used with renewable sources. In other words, the renewable energy you support displaces the non-renewable sources used from the electric grid. You can also support companies that use renewable energy by purchasing their products and services.
As a member of the Second Nature Program, you are participating in the Green-e program. Alliant Energy's Second Nature programs in Iowa, Minnesota, and now Wisconsin are all Green-e certified. This means that you can be certain that the renewable options you support meet the strict standards of the Green-e certification and verification program. Alliant Energy's Second Nature Program allows participants to offset some or all of their electricity from renewable energy technologies. Coal, nuclear, oil, and gas are displaced by Second Nature's renewable options.
Renewable Energy Resource: Solar |
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Talk about alternative energy, and the sun often gets top billing - for good reason. Solar energy is clean, efficient, and accessible. The sun plays a crucial role in renewable energy - in biomass (by enabling plants to grow in the first place), wind power (by generating the wind), and geothermal (by warming the earth). In our communities today more and more solar cells, which capture solar energy to generate electricity and heat water for homes and other buildings, are seen gracing rooftops. The resource that supplies solar energy to the Second Nature program is the New Bohemia Solar Project, the largest solar project in Iowa. An array of solar panels capable of generating 7,200 watts of electricity was installed in the summer of 2005 at the Kouba Building, part of a redevelopment area adjacent to the Bohemian Historic Commercial District of Cedar Rapids. The project was a partnership between the Iowa Renewable Energy Association, Alliant Energy, the City of Cedar Rapids, Thorland Company, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). |
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New Bohemia is the highest-rated solar project of all DOE-supported projects in the country, based on scope, partnership among organizations, and benefits to the community and the environment. Handson workshops have educated participants about solar technology and accomplished installation at the same time - talk about energy efficiency!
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One of the first steps you can take toward energy independence is to visit the Focus on Energy web site or call their friendly information center staff to learn more about how renewable energy can work for your home or business. |
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After learning more about renewable energy, the next step in utilizing it for your home or business is to assess your particular site. Focus on Energy partners with site assessors who can visit your property, examine your site and suggest a renewable energy system that will work best at your location.
To learn more about how you can have your home or business assessed for a renewable energy project, check out the Focus on Energy fact sheet, Assess Your Property's Renewable Energy Potential, which describes a site assessment, its benefits and costs, as well as how to obtain a site assessment for your location. You can download the fact sheet at focusonenergy.com/reliterature . For more renewable energy and energy efficiency information, visit focusonenergy.com , or call 800.762.7077.
If you would prefer to receive the Second Nature newsletter electronically, please send an email with your request to: secondnature@alliantenergy.com . Be sure to include “Second Nature E-Newsletter” in the subject line and remember to add your Alliant Energy account name and service address.
Over 230 Second Nature participants responded to the survey included in the spring 2007 newsletter. We'll include statistical results and some of the comments/questions in the fall newsletter. Don't miss it!
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780,000. That's how many prescriptions Bill Monroe estimates he has filled in his 30-year career as a pharmacist. Along with the pills and cough syrup, he has dispensed a lot of medical advice, and his interest in renewable energy is an offshoot of a career dedicated to good health. “For decades, community pharmacies have been a primary gatekeeper for healthcare,” Bill said, “so our pharmacy only sells products that promote and encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle.” |
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Bill enrolled the pharmacy in Second Nature as a way to continually keep the environment top of mind. His efforts to save energy include using programmable thermostats at both the pharmacy and his home, and he is a big fan of recycling.
His one regret is that he doesn't have the space to set up a recycling area for prescription bottles in the 1,000 square foot store. “Here in Greene County we have a good recycling program, so we've significantly reduced the amount of garbage we produce,” Bill said. Genesis Development in Jefferson handles all recycling, and they accept tin, paper, glass, and plastics.
The Hardin-Hilltop Wind Project being built outside Jefferson (approximately 45 miles west of Ames) has created a buzz in town, according to Bill, and he's visited the construction site several times. Upon completion, the farmer-owned operation will feature seven turbines, putting 16 megawatts on the power grid.
Bill would like to eventually see alternative fuels gain popularity, but knows that it will take time for the technology to reach the marketplace. In the meantime, he's determined to do his part to promote renewable energy. “I consider my participation in the Second Nature program a small, yet valuable, contribution to preserve the environment for future generations,” he said. “It's important to be good stewards of the land, water and air.”
Researchers at Iowa State University will receive a $22.5 million grant for a program to develop biorenewable fuel technology. The eight-year program, which will focus in part on a process called pyrolysis, is being funded by ConocoPhillips. Ethanol from cornstarch and biodiesel from soybean oil are examples of biorenewable fuels. Other options include making biofuels from fibrous biomass, like the stalks and leaves from corn plants and switchgrass. Pyrolysis uses heat to convert biomass into a liquid fuel for heating or transportation. “The emerging consensus is that a very big part of increasing the nation's energy security will be producing fuels from plants. Iowa State scientists and engineers are well positioned to put science to work advancing biofuels technologies,” says Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy.
In May, Wisconsin Power and Light received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to construct Cedar Ridge Wind Farm , the first wind farm to be owned by Alliant Energy. The 41-turbine facility will generate between 60 and 99 megawatts of energy each year; that's enough to power between 15,000 to 25,000 residential homes. The facility will cost approximately $180 million and will be located over a 12.2 square mile area in Fond du Lac County. The turbines are expected to be in operation by the end of 2008. “Cedar Ridge Wind Farm is the first step in our plan to add 300 megawatts of renewable energy for our Wisconsin customers by the end of 2009,” explains Kim Zuhlke, Vice President-New Energy Resources.
Alliant Energy and Trees Forever have awarded nearly $65,000 for tree plantings this fall through their joint Branching Out program.
Since the start of the program in 1989, over 1.1 million trees have been planted -in parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, schools, and more - as part of 2,188 Iowa projects. The trees represent a savings of almost 14 million kilowatt hours. That's enough energy to power more than 1,700 average-size residential homes for an entire year.
This year, Alliant Energy has awarded more than $205,000 to about 64 Iowa communities and/or organizations through the Branching Out program. Communities receiving Branching Ou t grants for this fall include Alden, Anamosa, Centerville, Clinton, Crawfordsville, Creston, Decorah, DeWitt, Dubuque, Eldon, Fairfax, Luxemburg, Muscatine, Perry, and Vinton.
Who's new to the Second Nature family? View a list of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin businesses that recently joined the Second Nature program.
View the Product Content Label for the Alliant Energy Second Nature Program.
