Spring 2011 Branching Out grant recipients announced

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Feb. 3, 2011 – Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, and Trees Forever announced the spring 2011 Branching Out grant recipients. Thirty-eight Iowa communities and organizations will receive $112,258 in funding for local tree planting projects.

Branching Out is a nationally-recognized program which brings Alliant Energy, Trees Forever, and community leaders together to complete locally-led tree-planting projects. The program encourages energy efficiency, environmental awareness, and community involvement in Iowa. Alliant Energy provides funding for project grants to participating communities, and Trees Forever staff members provide project assistance and technical resources to the local volunteers.

“Energy efficiency and sustainability are important and we believe our investment in tree planting and education will help our customers learn about the benefits of trees,” said Tom Aller, president of IPL.

The Branching Out program is offered exclusively to Iowa communities where Alliant Energy provides electric and/or natural gas service. Branching Out supports community-based, tree-planting projects with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Typical projects take place at parks, gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, nursing homes, schools, and more.

For the last 20 years, Alliant Energy has partnered with Trees Forever to educate Iowans on the importance of trees and the energy-saving benefits they provide. Since starting in 1990, volunteers have planted more than 1.1 million trees and seedlings across Iowa through the Branching Out program.

“Every Branching Out project focuses on long-term tree care with a special emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation,” said Shannon Ramsay, president and CEO of Trees Forever. “We are pleased to continue our 20-year partnership with Alliant Energy in a combined effort to educate Iowans on the importance of trees and to improve our environment one community at a time.”

Branching Out grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year, but are considered for funding during two grant-making cycles (spring and fall). The next application deadline is June 1, 2011. Fall 2011 grant recipients will be announced in August.

For more information, contact Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269. Applications are available online at www.alliantenergy.com/branchingout or the Trees Forever Branching Out webpage.

The following communities received Branching Out grants in the first round of funding for 2011:

Atlantic $3,000
Cedar Rapids $3,000
Clinton $10,000
Cresco $750
Creston $9,560 
Delta $800
Dubuque $2,400
Dysart $2,000
Edgewood $2,000
Fairfield $1,088
Farley $2,500
Fort Atkinson $1,790
Gladbrook $1,000
Greene $1,000
Greenfield $3,080
Hiwawatha $3,200
Hubbard $1,800
Jefferson $2,500
Lee CCB/West Point $5,000
Marion $8,850
Mason City $6,200
Mechanicsville $500
Muscatine $2,741
Peosta $7,276
Peosta NICC $3,000
Riceville $1,000
Saint Ansgar $1,800
Solon $608
Spirit Lake $2,700
Van Horne $1,000
Vinton $1,000
Washington $1,000
Waukon $3,500
Wayland $5,000
Wayland $2,345
Williamsburg $3,420


Alliant Energy is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 412,000 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, the company’s Iowa utility subsidiary, serves 530,000 electric and 235,000 natural gas customers and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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.

Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization based in Marion, IA, committed to planting trees, encouraging community involvement and stewardship, and caring for the environment. Programs focus on improving air and water quality, increasing wildlife habitat, providing substantial energy savings, and beautifying our landscape. For more information, visit www.treesforever.org or call 800-369-1269.