Minnesota Power Accelerates Timing of New Wind Project in North Dakota

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE company ALE, has accelerated its plans to build a third wind energy project in North Dakota, citing a competitive turbine market, federal production tax credits and regulatory support as factors for moving up its timeline. The Company submitted a plan to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission this week to build a 105 Megawatt, $157 million, wind farm in Oliver and Morton Counties in central North Dakota. The 35 turbine Bison 3 project will be constructed in the same proximity as the Company's Bison 1 and 2 wind projects. Coupled with the Company's scheduled biomass and current wind projects, Bison 3 will move the Company further toward its goal of achieving the State of Minnesota's mandate of 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. In approving Minnesota Power's long-term resource plan, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in May ordered the Company that it strongly consider adding more wind to its renewable portfolio, before the expiration of federal production tax credits on December 31, 2012.