Madison, Wisconsin - JULY 2, 2007 - Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL), an Alliant Energy company (NYSE: LNT), has purchased 41 wind turbines from Vestas Wind Systems for construction of the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm. The project will cover a 12.2-square mile area in the townships of Eden and Empire in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
Each Vestas V82 turbine is capable of producing 1.65 megawatts of electricity for a project total of nearly 70 megawatts, or enough energy to power approximately 17,000 homes. Last month, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved WPL's Certificate of Authority application to construct Cedar Ridge Wind Farm, at an expected cost not to exceed $180 million, excluding AFUDC. Once completed, the Cedar Ridge Wind Farm will become Alliant Energy's first fully owned and operated wind farm.
Construction, which will be done in phases, is expected to begin in August 2007, with the installation of turbine access roads, foundations and the substation. Turbine erection, assembly and commissioning, along with public road improvements and cabling will take place in 2008. The wind farm is expected to be online by the end of 2008.
Vestas' core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale, marketing and maintenance of wind power systems that use wind energy to generate electricity. Vestas has a long history of wind development. Headquartered in Denmark, the company began manufacturing wind turbines in 1979, and has installed more than 32,500 wind turbines in more than 60 countries worldwide.
“We evaluated a number of different turbine models and are pleased with the competitive economics and technological performance of the Vestas V82,” said Kim Zuhlke, Vice President-New Generation. “We are excited about what this addition to our renewable energy portfolio means to our customers - even greater access to green energy.”
This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified as such because the statements include words such as "expected" 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: unanticipated construction issues, delays or expenditures; changes to WPL's access to capital markets; current or future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries that could impede the implementation of WPL's plans; failure of equipment and technology to perform as expected; 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.