The Marshalltown Generating Station plant was formally dedicated Monday in front of a crowd of dignitaries all of whom were clad in safety helmets and glasses. Those present included Lieutenant Governor and soon to be Governor Kim Reynolds. Officials of Alliant Energy said they were grateful for the partnership that Marshalltown provided in getting the place built. The operation was off line at the time but none the less the building which is state of the art, provided the hissing noises of an energy plant for those who were there. The project took ten years to reach fruition and had a price tag of 645 million dollars. Mayor Jim Lowrance revealed that the City Council at its meeting on May 22nd will pass a resolution renaming the portion of the entrance road from South 18th Avenue after the late Gene Beach the one time Mayor of Marshalltown who was a supporter of Alliant Energy and the original vision of this project.