greendubuque.org

Second Nature Program

A fast and easy way to invest in renewable energy

Dubuque and many surrounding areas rely on Alliant Energy to provide

safe and reliable electricity, but where is that energy coming from? 

According to Alliant, their standard energy mix is as follows3:

**Purchased power is energy from facilities not owned by Alliant Energy,

which includes renewable (a little over 10% of the total mix4), nuclear,

and non-renewable fossil fuel sources.  According to the US Dept. of Energy,

Iowans get on average 86% of their energy from coal. 

So, the majority of Dubuque’s power currently comes from non-

renewable fossil fuels (specifically, coal).  But it doesn’t have to!

In 2000, Alliant Energy initiated its Second Nature program.  The

program allows customers to purchase electricity generated by

renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass, which allows

Alliant to expand its use of renewables.

In other words, if you want your electricity to come from renewable

sources, you have to let Alliant know by requesting that 25, 50, or

100 percent of your electric bill be used to purchase clean, reliable

renewable energy.  By increasing our demand for renewables, Alliant

will increase the supply, and we’ll be well on our way to a healthier,

sustainable future.

So, how much does it cost to take our resource future into your own hands? 

As it turns out, not much.  Take a look at this table compiled by Alliant Energy.

  *Average monthly use for residential customers (800 kWh)

To support renewable energy equal to 25 percent of your household electric

usage, it will cost most customers only $4 per month.  Only $4 per month will

prevent almost 2 ½ tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, which is

equivalent to taking one car off the road for nearly 6 months!1  And if you

want to take your contribution a step further to 50 percent, it will make double

the impact!  $8 per month will prevent nearly 5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions

annually, which is equivalent to taking one car off the road for almost an entire year! 1 

This is a truly unique opportunity to conserve resources and build a cleaner,

more sustainable future for our world.

Join Second Nature by calling 1-800-ALLIANT or sign up online.  And remember this:

If every one of the 22,560 households2 in Dubuque invest just $4 per month in clean,

reliable sources of renewable energy, it could prevent over 53,388 tons of greenhouse

gas emissions annually, which is approximately equivalent to taking 9,309 cars off the road for one year!1 

All for just $4 per month.  We can make a difference.  Calculate your potential impact here.

Notes and Sources

1)      Alliant Energy savings calculator (http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p014911.hcsp)

2)      US Census Bureau – 2000 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/1922395.html)

3)      Alliant Energy 2006 data (http://whttp://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p014818.hcsp)

     4)   Based on Alliant Energy data:  

           5000+ MW total capacity in 2006 (http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p014819.hcsp) and 

        550 MW renewable generation in 2004 (http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p014443.hcsp)