King County Department of Natural Resources selects Alliant Energy for energy analysis

SEATTLE, Sept. 27, 2001 — King County, Washington State, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has chosen Alliant Energy Integrated Services for energy management evaluation and planning services at its West Point Treatment Plant (WPTP). The facility is one of two major wastewater treatment plants serving the Seattle, Wash., area.

Under the contract, staff from Alliant Energy Integrated Services' Minneapolis office will work with Brown & Caldwell and Moore Engineering Consultants, both of Seattle, Wash., to study energy generation, utilization and reliability at WPTP. Study findings will be used to develop a comprehensive energy management plan for the plant.

West Point Treatment Plant is located on Puget Sound. It houses an on-site co-generation facility that burns digester gas to provide heat for the plant and to generate electricity for sale to Seattle City Light, a local utility. The plant is designed to process up to 440 million gallons of wastewater, including storm water runoff, per day.

"Our task is to evaluate the current operation at the plant and make recommendations for a long-term capital improvement program and comprehensive energy plan," said Chuck Castine, president of Alliant Energy Integrated Services. "With the right technology upgrades and a strategic energy plan, we're confident King County's wastewater treatment plant can achieve significant energy efficiencies, and ultimately attain better reliability and cost savings."

Forty-three years ago the waters of Puget Sound and Lake Washington were polluted and unsafe. In response, King County established a regional wastewater conveyance and treatment system to clean the polluted waters. WPTP is part of that system.

The future energy plan will include recommendations for the best utilization of digester gas, an assessment of the need for on-site standby power generation, an economic evaluation of electric generation opportunities, and a long-range capital improvement plan.

Castine said Alliant Energy Integrated Services is excited about the opportunity to work with the King County DNR. "We welcome the opportunity to apply our experience and expertise to helping WPTP operate more efficiently and productively. The actions that the King County DNR is taking today to improve the plant's operations and efficiency will safeguard the environment, save valuable natural resources, and have a direct impact on the health and well being of future generations of Puget Sound residents."

Alliant Energy Integrated Services, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a diversified energy and environmental engineering company of Alliant Energy (NYSE: LNT - news), a growing energy company based in Madison, Wis. Alliant Energy Integrated Services provides energy consulting, on-site generation and energy infrastructure, energy procurement and environmental engineering and construction management services for commercial, industrial, institutional, educational and government customers.

For more information about the company, contact Tom Petersen, 877-725-6611. Information about Alliant Energy Integrated Services is available on-line at http://www.alliantenergyisco.com