MADISON, Wis. – September 2, 2021 – For the third year in a row, Alliant Energy was named on Site Selection magazine’s Top Utility in Economic Development list. The annual list recognizes the company for its contributions to community development and job creation.
In its September issue, Site Selection credits Alliant Energy’s economic development team, in collaboration with local, regional and state partners in Iowa and Wisconsin, for delivering more than $906 million in new capital investment and more than 2,200 new jobs in 2020. Its 10 Wisconsin-based projects alone account for nearly $327 million in capital investment and created 730 jobs.
Alliant Energy is one of 20 companies nationally named to the list and one of two on the list in Wisconsin. In all, there are 3,300 utility companies, including 900 electric cooperatives, in the United States.
“We appreciate the recognition of our efforts as Alliant Energy helped bring more than 30 new industrial and warehouse projects across Iowa and Wisconsin to life in the last year,” said David de Leon, president of Alliant Energy’s Wisconsin energy company and senior vice president of operations. “These projects are a direct impact for building stronger communities and we consider that alone to be a great achievement.”
The recognition reflects the success of Alliant Energy’s economic development team in business attraction and retention. This past year, for example, Johnsonville, a sausage and food production business located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin wanted to add a new production location. Alliant Energy’s economic development team created connections with city and state organizations, discussed incentives and real estate opportunities. This resulted in the creation of 78 jobs and $33 million in capital expenditure. The project added 1.5 megawatts (MW) of electrical load and saved .5 MW.
“Alliant Energy goes above and beyond what is expected of a typical utility company,” said Eric Stavriotis, Executive Vice President, CBRE, Advisory & Transaction Services, in regard to the Johnsonville project. “They helped with all aspects of structuring our projects beyond just providing standard information on power & gas. They were key to our success with our clients.”
Site Selection noticed Alliant Energy’s innovations in the absence of travel and on-site meetings. The company added interactive maps to the Alliant Energy economic development web page to allow site location consultants and real estate executives to tour Alliant Energy’s industrial sites virtually. The platform showcases certified sites across Iowa and Wisconsin and provides data on community assets, labor force, population, transportation routes, site costs and utility capacity including electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater and broadband.
“Alliant Energy is a trusted economic development partner to Beaver Dam,” said Trent Campbell, Executive Vice President, Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation. “Their tireless efforts in creating the state certified Beaver Dam Commerce Park demonstrate the value they bring to our community. We look forward to sharing many future successes with Alliant!”
Site Selector recognized Alliant Energy’s transition to renewable energy. Business customers have environmental demands and sustainability goals and seek to partner with companies like Alliant Energy, whose Clean Energy Blueprint guides its work to sustain the economic and environmental health of the communities it serves. Current Alliant Energy Wisconsin business customers like 3M, PepsiCo (Frito-Lay), Kerry Group, Mars, International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. and many others have committed to moving their operations to 100% renewable electricity. Alliant Energy has embraced new technologies to help them achieve their goals, and continues to adapt and become more resilient and reliable.
Site Selection delivers expansion planning information to 45,000 site location consultants and executives of fast-growing firms and is considered the senior publication in the development field. The magazine bases its award ranking on a utility’s efforts to cultivate industrial business development, job creation and the populations it serves.
About Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: LNT) provides regulated energy service to 970,000 electric and 420,000 natural gas customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy’s mission is to deliver the energy solutions and exceptional service customers and communities count on – safely, efficiently and responsibly. Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company are Alliant Energy’s two public energy companies. Alliant Energy is a component of the Nasdaq CRD Sustainability Index, Bloomberg’s 2020 Gender-Equality Index, and the S&P 500. For more information, visit alliantenergy.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
