USA - NorthWestern Energy announces purchase of wind power for South Dakota Electric Customers

NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy has announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase 25 megawatts (MW) of wind power from a planned Hand County wind farm to serve electric customers in South Dakota.

The agreement with Rolling Thunder 1 Power Partners, which is owned by BP Wind Energy and Clipper Windpower, is the first renewable source of energy to be made available to customers in NorthWestern Energy’s South Dakota utility. “Wind power is important to our customers and to the economic development of South Dakota,” said Bob Rowe, NorthWestern Energy’s president and CEO. “We’re excited to begin the process of diversifying our fuel supply mix in South Dakota to include the benefits of clean, renewable energy.”

"Power purchase agreements like this one announced by NorthWestern Energy are a necessary component for wind energy development in South Dakota," said South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman Dusty Johnson. "The news that NorthWestern Energy's South Dakota customers may soon be served by renewable energy is great."

Under the 20-year agreement, NorthWestern will purchase 25 MW from the Rolling Thunder 1 Power Partners project that will be built in Hand County south of the town of Ree Heights. The Clipper 2.5 MW Liberty Wind Turbines will be manufactured at a plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The wind farm is anticipated to begin construction in the first half of 2009, with commercial operation expected by early 2010.

About NorthWestern Energy
NorthWestern Energy is one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 650,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.

For more information, please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net