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DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH HERALD – January 24th, 2003
Alliant Energy plans hands-on town meeting
By M.D. Kittle
An Alliant Energy official says an upcoming, hands-on forum on Iowa's future power needs is drawing plenty of local interest.
The utility and several Iowa media outlets, including the Telegraph Herald, are sponsoring a series of town hall meetings across the state, beginning Monday night in Dubuque.
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What: "Powering Iowa," one of a series of town-hall meetings to discuss energy issues. The forums will include the "Energy Ed" software exercise.
Who: The public is invited.
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday.
Where: The University of Dubuque's Hadley Auditorium.
Sponsors: Presented by Blue Spark, in cooperation with Alliant Energy and the Telegraph Herald.
Registration: Phone 800/419-0279 or log onto www.bluesparkgadgets.com.
"We have been getting good responses through the Web site and phone calls, but there is still plenty of room for folks to participate," said Chris Schoenherr, spokesman for Alliant Energy.
The two-hour town hall meetings will bring average citizens, environmental groups and "power people together to talk about Iowa's energy issues." Through the use of Energy Ed, a simulated exercise, participants will be able to plot a 15-year forecast of electrical energy use in Iowa.
The computer program uses actual electrical energy consumption, generation and transmission figures for Iowa to set an accurate baseline. Participants use that data and their own judgment to:
* Estimate the state's future demand for electricity.
* Set goals for controlling emissions that could harm the environment.
* Ensure energy reliability.
* Estimate how much residential users will be willing to pay to accomplish it all.
Schoenherr said organizers have received forum inquiries from a wide range of interested parties, from environmental groups to economic development officials.
"But what is equally important is to have common, everyday residential customers. That's a group we don't often hear from," Schoenherr said. "It makes it that much more interesting if we have a range of different opinions on how to go about supplying energy to Iowa."
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