Alliant Energy today announced plans to build two new power plants in Iowa — one billion dollars worth of investment. Alliant spokesman John Ruff.The utility calls their plan “Power Iowa”. In addition to building a new coal-fired plant AND a new natural-gas-powered plant, the utility plans to buy more “renewable” energy, improve transmission lines and boost energy efficiency projects.No specific sites have been selected for the new plants, and Ruff says they’ve looking for two “willing” host communities.Governor Tom Vilsack says the Alliant announcement is a result of the new state law, passed in June, which reduced red tape for utilities that want to build a new power plant in Iowa.Vilsack says the news couldn’t come at a better time when the state needs an economic boost.Utilities lobbied hard for the new law, saying no new power plants would be built in Iowa without it. Alliant’s plan calls for the new, natural-gas-fired power plant to be on-line by the summer of 2004.
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