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Prairie du Sac Dam special event celebrates green power and economic development
Prairie du Sac, Wis. – September 12, 2014 – The Prairie du Sac Dam has now produced clean, renewable energy for 100 years to the ongoing benefit of Alliant Energy customers and Wisconsin’s economy and tourism industry.
Today, a special celebration was held to mark the Prairie du Sac Dam’s 100th Anniversary of operation. The hydroelectric generating station began generating power in September 1914 and continues to provide up to 31 megawatts of green power to customers.
“We are delighted to mark the 100th year of operations at the Prairie du Sac Dam and take this time to recognize the rich history of the facility. The power plant helped create popular Lake Wisconsin, and it played a strong role in the birth of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility,” said Patricia Kampling, Chairman, President and CEO of Alliant Energy. “This dam and our 105-year-old Kilbourn Dam in Wisconsin Dells are our company’s oldest renewable energy generating stations, and they continue to put out clean power for our customers.”
Governor Scott Walker joined the celebration at the hydroelectric facility, along with over 120 federal and state agency representatives, state and local public officials, special guests and Alliant Energy employees.
“I’m pleased to join everyone today in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Prairie du Sac Dam,” said Governor Scott Walker. “This is an exciting milestone and a great opportunity to reflect on the proud history of the dam, which is responsible for powering tens of thousands of homes and creating Lake Wisconsin, a beautiful and popular tourist destination known for great fishing and bald eagles.”
The Prairie du Sac Dam was constructed from 1911 to 1914. At the time it was completed, it was the largest dam west of Niagara Falls and was viewed as a modern engineering marvel. It continues to be the largest hydroelectric facility in the state of Wisconsin.
The dam was not profitable in its early years and was sold in 1916 and then again in 1917 to what later became Alliant Energy. The availability of power from the Prairie du Sac and Kilbourn Dams spurred the consolidation of several utility systems serving southern Wisconsin into one, larger interconnected utility company. By 1924, these individual operating companies united as Wisconsin Power and Light Company, Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin utility.
Alliant Energy Corporation’s Wisconsin utility subsidiary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), utilizes the trade name of Alliant Energy. The Wisconsin utility is based in Madison, Wis., and provides electric service to 460,000 customers and natural gas service to approximately 182,000 customers in more than 600 communities across central and southern Wisconsin. The employees of Alliant Energy focus on delivering the energy and exceptional service their customers and communities expect – safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Visit alliantenergy.com or call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) for more information. Alliant Energy Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT.
