Alliant Energy named a Top Utility in Economic Development

For third consecutive year Site Selection magazine recognizes the company’s contributions to business development and job creation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – 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. The 21 Iowa-based projects alone account for nearly $580 million in capital investment and created 1,540 jobs.

Alliant Energy is one of 20 companies nationally named to the list and the only one in Iowa. In all, there are 3,300 utility companies, including 900 electric cooperatives, in the United States.

“We appreciate the recognition of our economic development efforts by Site Selectors magazine as we continue to serve our customers in innovative ways and build stronger communities,” said Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company and senior vice president of Iowa operations. “We are proud to be listed among such strong industry peers and appreciate the collaborative relationships we have with our local and state economic development organizations.”

The recognition reflects the success of Alliant Energy’s economic development team in business attraction and retention. This past year, for example, Simmons Foods came to Dubuque, Iowa with a project that created more than 270 new jobs and $80 million in capital investment.

“Alliant Energy was an important partner as we made the decision to locate our new pet food operation in Dubuque,” said Seth Walters, Vice President of Engineering, Reliability and Environmental, Simmons Foods. “We operate our canning lines 24/7, so reliable utility service is essential to us. Alliant Energy worked with us to design an upgrade to the primary service and new redundant feed to keep power flowing constantly.”

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.

“Working with Alliant Energy on developing interactive maps to showcase the Lincolnway Industrial Rail and Air Park in Clinton, Iowa has been essential to maintain close relationships with our region’s utility partners during the challenges of a global pandemic,” said Andy Sokolovich, vice president of economic development with Clinton Regional Development Corporation. “Alliant Energy continues to support our economic development efforts as contributing members of a thriving community.”

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 Iowa business customers like Grupo Bimbo, PepsiCo (Quaker Oats), Continental, Nestle, 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. In 2020, Alliant Energy’s CO2 reductions from fossil-fueled generation were 42% below 2005 levels.

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.