Envision Solar Completes New Solar Shaded Parking Structure at Dell Headquarters

Solar Trees® Produce More than 130kW of Clean Solar Power

Envision Solar International, Inc., the leader in solar integrated building systems, announced today the completion of a solar shaded parking structure of Solar Trees® at Dell's headquarters in Round Rock, TX. This configuration of Solar Trees®, called a Solar Grove®, is designed to produce more than 130kW of solar power, helping avoid 145,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Envision Solar International, Inc., the leader in solar integrated building systems, announced today the completion of a solar shaded parking structure of Solar Trees® at Dell's headquarters in Round Rock, TX. This configuration of Solar Trees®, called a Solar Grove®, is designed to produce more than 130kW of solar power, helping avoid 145,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Led by a group of visionary architects, builders and engineers, Envision Solar transforms heat-absorbing parking areas into beautiful, efficient solar power plants. McBride Electric, the general contractor of the project, chose Envision Solar as its partner because of the company's success and experience in designing and installing aesthetically superior Solar Integrated Building Systems (SIBS™).

The Solar Trees®, located in the Dell employee parking lot, will simultaneously shade 50 parking spaces and generate clean electricity directly from the sun. In an example of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, the solar arrays also incorporate two Envision Solar CleanCharge™ solar charging stations utilizing Coulomb ChargPoint™ for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Photos can be viewed here.

"Dell's commitment to environmental sustainability is a beacon to organizations worldwide. We're proud our Solar Trees® and CleanCharge™ solar charging stations can help serve as visible symbols of their environmental stewardship. The future of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles has arrived and our experience in solar innovation has allowed us to lead the market in the development of solar charging stations," said Robert Noble, CEO & Chairman of Envision Solar.
Envision Solar partnered with McBride Electric Inc., BP Solar and The Weitz Company to design and build the Solar Grove®.

Mr. Noble of Envision Solar explained how more corporations, governments and institutions are viewing sustainability as a significant factor in the way their businesses manage and compete saying, "Dell's Solar Grove®, with CleanCharge® solar charging stations, presents a bold symbol of their commitment to a clean, healthy environment and a sustainable future for their employees, their community, their customers and the world. They should be applauded for their leadership and example."

For more information on Envision Solar, visit www.envisionsolar.com.

Envision Solar International Inc.:
Envision Solar International, Inc has leveraged its core expertise in architecture, industrial design and structural technology innovation to build "solar you can see." The company is a solar project and technology developer providing turn-key design/build solutions for commercial, industrial, institutional and residential projects. Envision is a leader in Parking Lot Solar Arrays, and other solar installations which utilize public or residential space to positively impact the environment but are still pleasing to the eye and architecturally innovative. Envision has coined the term "Solar Integrated Building Systems" (SIBS™) to define the industry in which it operates. Envision also provides Sustainable Strategy and Sustainable Infrastructure Master Planning (SIMP™), which offers professional advisory and project management support in coordination and partnership with institutions, agencies and other parties participating in sustainability projects. Envision's mission is Solar Forestation and an end to energy poverty. Solar Tree®, Solar Grove®, CleanCharge™, SIBS™ and SIMP™ are trademarks of Envision Solar International, Inc. (http://envisionsolar.com/)

McBride Electric:
San Diego, California based McBride Electric, Inc., through its network of branch and affiliate offices, proudly provides value-based power, data and alternative energy solutions to commercial and industrial customers in all fifty states, the U.S. territories and Canada. McBride Electric's employees, always focused on our core values of "Safety", "Ethics" and "Quality", provide on-site, on-time, and on-budget projects producing exceptional value for our customers, employees and stakeholders. http://www.mcbrideelectric.com/

BP Solar:
BP Solar designs, manufactures and markets products which use the sun's energy to generate electricity for use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. With over 35 years of experience and installations in most countries, BP Solar is one of the world's leading solar companies. (bp.com)

The Weitz Company:
Founded in 1855, The Weitz Company is a national full-service general contractor, design-builder and construction manager with offices in 11 states and Guam. The company's expertise includes office, retail, residential condominiums, tenant interiors, resort properties, parking structures, industrial, healthcare, education, government and mixed-use facilities. More information about The Weitz Company is available at http://www.weitz.com.

Source: prweb.com

New Wind Farm Welcomed Near Raglan

“Wind energy’s positive contribution to New Zealand is growing as good progress is made with several projects,” says New Zealand Wind Energy Association Chief Executive Fraser Clark, welcoming Meridian Energy’s announcement that it will begin construction of its 64 megawatt (MW) Te Uku Wind Farm, near Raglan.

“Te Uku will be built ahead of other consented thermal and geothermal electricity generation projects – a clear indication that wind farms can generate low-cost electricity that is competitive with other technologies.”

Te Uku will be the first wind farm in the upper North Island. “It will improve security of supply to the local community and provide a new source of generation near a major demand centre,” says Mr Clark.

“Nationally, growth in wind generation will help to improve security of supply during dry years by reducing reliance on hydro generation. In addition there are long-term economic benefits from the development of climate-resilient infrastructure and the use of a natural resource that provides fuel supply and price certainty.”

This week Windflow Technology and Mighty River Power’s 12.5 MW Long Gully wind farm received consent and Meridian Energy announced all 62 turbines are operational at its 142 MW Project West Wind.

“These projects demonstrate that wind farms of all sizes create important benefits for New Zealand,” says Mr Clark.

With all turbines operating at Project West Wind, New Zealand’s wind energy capacity nears 500 MW. It will grow to 575 MW once Te Uku and the other wind farms currently under construction are completed. Globally, wind energy capacity was over 120,000 MW (120 gigawatts) at the beginning of 2009.

“With developers seeking consent for over 2,000 MW of wind energy capacity, New Zealand stands to benefit further from its world-class wind energy resource. But to do so it requires a stable and positive energy, climate change and RMA policy environment,” concludes Mr Clark.

Further Information:
The New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) is an industry association that works towards the development of wind as a reliable, sustainable, clean and commercially viable energy source. We aim to fairly represent wind energy to the public, government and the energy sector. Our members include about 80 companies involved in New Zealand’s wind energy sector, including electricity generators, wind farm developers, lines companies, turbine manufacturers, consulting firms, researchers and law firms. For more information visit http://www.windenergy.org.nz.

Source: NZ Wind Energy Association

Alliant Energy Receives Approval to Bring More 'Green' Power to Wisconsin Power and Light Company Customers

200 megawatts of wind energy will help utility move further down path to greener future

Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT), today received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to build phase one of the Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota. This was the final regulatory approval needed by WPL to begin construction.

"We are very pleased with the MPUC's decision today," said Barbara Swan, President-WPL. "The addition of Bent Tree to our wind portfolio helps pave the way for WPL to provide 12% of our retail energy supply from renewable energy sources by 2012, furthering our commitment to finding emissions-free sources of energy that complement our existing baseload generation."

WPL plans to develop approximately 200 megawatts (MW) of emissions-free wind energy on the Bent Tree Wind Farm site - enough energy to power approximately 50,000 homes. The MPUC approval comes three months after the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) approved the plan.

The 200 MW project will cost approximately $425 to $475 million, excluding allowance for funds used during construction, with commercial operation anticipated in 2011.

Alliant Energy 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. Wisconsin Power and Light, the company's Wisconsin utility subsidiary, serves approximately 450,000 electric and 175,000 natural gas customers. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., 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.

This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements can be identified as such because the statements include words such as approximately, continue, committed, expected, anticipates or other words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future plans or strategies are also forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Actual results could be affected by such factors as: state regulatory actions or local government actions which delay, prevent or alter the proposed plans, including inability to obtain all necessary approvals and permits; unanticipated construction issues, delays or expenditures, including increased costs of labor, materials and equipment; failure of equipment and technology to perform as expected; current or future litigation, regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries that could impede the implementation of WPL's plans; political conditions in WPL's service territories; changes to WPL's access to capital markets; and economic conditions in WPL's service territory. These factors should be considered when evaluating the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof and Alliant Energy and WPL undertake no obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Source: Alliant Energy Corporation