Having served on the Alliant Energy board for 11 years, I am writing this letter concerning energy and wind farms. Energy is, in any form, a very valuable resource that we all depend on, and that demand keeps growing each year. Back in 1963 there were about 3 1/2 billion people in the world. Now there are over 7 billion, and it increases every year. While our population increases and demand for energy goes up, the amount of natural resources diminishes. Even though there are still a lot of oil deposits, it is a decreasing resource. Last year, the world population used 96 billion barrels of oil a day — yes, I said a day. We will have more electric cars soon, but what will provide the electricity? That is why Alliant Energy turned to wind as a source because once you have built the turbine, its costs are very small and there is an endless source. We cannot continually think about ourselves; we must think about future generations. Please move forward with the issuance of a draft site permit for the Freeborn Wind Farm.

Al Arends

Albert Lea