RENEWABLE NORTHWEST PROJECT HAILS ANNOUNCEMENT BY NORTHWESTERN ENERGY

The Renewable Northwest Project (RNP) applauds today’s announcement by NorthWestern Energy that it has signed an agreement to purchase between 135-150 MW of wind power for its Montana default supply customers. NorthWestern signed the agreement with Invenergy Wind LLC to acquire the power from a wind project to be constructed near Judith Gap in Wheatland County, Montana.

"This is great news for Montana! Montana has the best wind resource in the Northwest, and with today’s announcement, consumers will finally reap the benefits of that resource in the form of a low-cost, clean wind project," said Ann English Gravatt, Senior Policy Associate. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2005 in order to take advantage of the federal Production Tax Credit for wind power. "NorthWestern and all of the project developers worked hard to make this happen. We’re thrilled with this belated holiday present!" said Gravatt.

The Renewable Northwest Project is a regional nonprofit organization promoting the responsible development of wind, solar and geothermal resources in the Pacific Northwest.

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