Partnership for Industrial Energy Efficiency to host Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Seminar in Ames

Event will focus on reducing energy costs associated with steam systems

The Partnership for Industrial Energy Efficiency (PIE²) wants to help commercial and industrial customers mitigate the impact of rising natural gas costs. The group plans to host an interactive, one-day seminar in Ames, Iowa on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

PIE2 is a group comprised of the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS), the Iowa Energy Center, the Industrial Assessment Center, the Electric Power Resource Center, Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Black Hills Energy, the Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), and others interested in energy efficiency. In the past several years, the partnership has offered several programs to help companies increase their energy efficiency, thus decreasing their operational expenses.

The seminar will include tips and advice on how to reduce energy costs associated with operating facility steam systems and how to effectively purchase natural gas to reduce price risk. The goal of the seminar is to provide attendees with energy efficiency improvement ideas that can be implemented at their facilities to immediately reduce natural gas consumption and costs.

Registration and refreshments begin at 8 a.m. The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus, located between Hilton Coliseum and Stephens Auditorium in Ames. Topics covered during the seminar will include:

* Improving energy efficiency of steam systems;
* Efficient boiler and HVAC operations;
* Managing gas purchases; and
* Reducing gas usage of industrial processes.

“The cost of energy is becoming a significant component in the cost of manufacturing,” said Ron Cox, Director – CIRAS/Iowa State University Extension. “For those manufacturers considering attending this seminar, they will have a great opportunity to walk away with suggestions and ideas to better utilize their natural gas usage. To stay competitive in today’s market place, this seminar will be very useful.”

The cost to participate in the seminar is $380 per person, including lunch and workshop materials for registrations received by October 7, 2008. The fee is $450 for registrations received after October 7. Gas supply customers of Alliant Energy, Black Hills Energy, and MidAmerican Energy may register at a 50 percent discount. The utility companies will pay for the remainder of these registration costs.

To register for the seminar, visit www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/naturalgas/home.html. Or for more details, call 515-294-6222 or email ucs-infor@iastate.edu.

About Alliant Energy

Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and 400,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Interstate Power and Light Company, the company’s Iowa utility subsidiary, serves approximately 523,000 electric and 235,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.alliantenergy.com.
About Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Energy, a division of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH), serves 150,000 natural gas customers in 130 Iowa communities. Black Hills Corp. — a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice — is based in Rapid City, S.D., with corporate offices in Golden, Colo., and Omaha, Neb. The company serves 750,000 utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company’s non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. We partner to produce results that improve life with energy. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.
About MidAmerican Energy Company

MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa’s largest energy company, provides electric service to 720,000 customers and natural gas service to 702,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. It is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Information about MidAmerican is available on the Internet at www.midamericanenergy.com.

Media Contact: Nancy Craig (319) 786-4788