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The Principal Charity Classic and MidAmerican Energy Company Partner for Carbon Neutral Golf Tournament

New “Shoot for Zero” Initiative Minimizes Tournament’s Environmental Impact

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Thanks to a new partnership with MidAmerican Energy Company and Waste Management, The Principal Charity Classic presented by Wells Fargo, will be a carbon neutral event. The event will be held June 1 through June 5, at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines. The partnership’s Shoot for Zero initiative employs several tactics, including electric golf carts, solar-powered skybox televisions and more, to reduce the tournament’s environmental impact.

“The Principal Charity Classic is the kind of event that showcases the Greater Des Moines area as a great place to live. Shoot for Zero will enhance the area’s reputation as a community that is committed to environmental stewardship and vibrancy,” said Mary O’Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Principal Financial Group® and chair of The Principal Charity Classic board.

The Principal Charity Classic will reduce its carbon footprint in 2011 with:

Solar compactors on site
Electric golf carts
On-site recycling centers for both recyclable and organic materials
Solar power for skybox televisions

To offset the remaining carbon emissions associated with the event, MidAmerican Energy will provide and permanently retire renewable energy credits.

“On the course, no one can shoot a zero. But by reducing the event’s carbon impact where we can and offsetting what we can’t, the carbon footprint of the 2011 event is expected to be zero,” said Kevin Dodson, director of environmental programs, compliance and permitting, MidAmerican Energy.

The tournament will get fans involved, too. “With nearly 74,000 spectators at The Principal Charity Classic last year, we know that our fans can play a big role in Shoot for Zero,” said Jamie Alt, tournament director. “Throughout the tournament, we’ll encourage spectators to ‘look before they throw’ so they can put recyclables in one container and organic materials in another.”

Spectators also can stop by the MidAmerican Energy booth at the tournament to learn more about energy efficiency and purchase souvenir T-shirts made of 100% organic cotton. For every 10 T-shirts sold, a tree will be planted in commemoration of the 2011 Principal Charity Classic.

About The Principal Charity Classic

The Principal Charity Classic presented by Wells Fargo brings the PGA Champions Tour pro golf tournament to Des Moines. Voted the No. 1 stop by Champions Tour professionals, the tournament will be played at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa, June 1 through June 5, 2011. Over the last four years, the tournament has raised $2.3 million for local children’s charities. In addition, according to a recent Iowa State University study, the tournament brings $20.8 million in direct economic impact to the Greater Des Moines area.

Hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, funds raised through the event will benefit FORE Our Kids, a group of five select charities that support Iowa’s children: Blank Children’s Hospital; Bravo Greater Des Moines; Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; United Way of Central Iowa; and Variety, The Children’s Charity of Iowa.

To benefit even more central Iowa kids, The Principal Charity Classic sponsors Birdies for Charity, an additional fundraising effort to supplement tournament-generated proceeds. One hundred percent of the funds generated through Birdies for Charity will go to participating charities. For more information on the charities and the tournament, visit www.principalcharityclassic.com.

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