Alliant Energy will eliminate coal from energy mix by 2050

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Alliant Energy says it will eliminate coal from its energy mix by 2050. The company also has a goal to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent.

The energy company plans to spend more than $2 billion on new renewables, doubling its number of wind sites from six to 12. Through this new construction and additional purchase agreements, the company’s energy portfolio will have more than 2,700 megawatts of wind power by 2021 and renewables will be over 30 percent of Alliant Energy’s energy mix by 2030.

These actions will enable Alliant Energy to exceed carbon reduction goals pledged originally by the U.S. under the voluntary United Nations Paris Accord. While the Accord calls for reducing carbon 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, Alliant Energy’s plans enable a 40 percent reduction by that time.