End of an era in C.R. steam generation

By Thomas Aller

When something is around for 117 years, it must be good. And, when it comes to an end, its impact is recognized more clearly than ever.

This week, we'll turn off the steam to a system that has done more for our community than just generate heat. It's been the power of business and industry - attracting new economic growth while providing inexpensive energy to homes, businesses, hospitals, churches, government and non-profit agencies.

Steam heat has always been inexpensive, beginning with the annual $4 per 1,000 square feet heating charge that was billed the first year of service. Prices did rise over the 117 years that followed. However, any steam customer would tell you that before the 2008 flood, there was no cheaper way to heat or produce steam for production than getting export steam from one of our Cedar Rapids generating stations.

That all changed as water rose above forecasts and beyond our flood protection in June 2008. Massive damage was done inside the Sixth Street plant. The plant was damaged beyond repair and would require a rebuild that would not be ready for the upcoming cold-weather months. Building a temporary system for steam was not in the best interest of our company. But, in an unprecedented situation like this, decisions are not based on business models and money alone. Without the temporary system, the rebuilding of downtown businesses and re-employment of hundreds of downtown workers would have been at best delayed and at worst stopped completely.

With the community in mind, Alliant Energy set forth to design, build and begin operation of a temporary steam system in just a matter of weeks.

The high cost of this system for our customers has been well documented. The financial impact to our company is yet to be completely determined, but in our opinion, it was worth our costs to heat downtown Cedar Rapids through the winter of 2008-2009.

We partnered with the city and the state, attempting to secure grants and federal funding to help bring the system back permanently, but there were not enough available dollars to rebuild a system that would be economically feasible for our customers and the company.

As we shut down our steam system, we are grateful for 12 decades of dedication made by our steam crews and Sixth Street staff. We thank our steam customers for your patience, understanding and partnership. It has been a privilege to serve you and we look forward to being part of the Cedar Rapids community with you for decades to come.

Thomas L. Aller is president, Alliant Energy and subsidiary Interstate Power and Light Co.