PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Friday April 3, 2009

Contact: Noel LaBine 763-477-3086

Biomass Project information meeting to be held

at Rockford Township Hall on April 14, 2009

Great Northern Prairie Energy will hold a public informational meeting Tuesday, April 14th at the Rockford Township Hall, 3039 Dague Avenue SE , Buffalo . There will be an Open House starting at 6:30 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by a presentation and a question and answer session.

Great Northern Prairie Energy is proposing to develop a 25-megawatt, wood-fired biomass electrical generating facility at the Whispering Winds Industrial Park in Rockford Township . The project will feed enough electrical power into the nearby Dickinson Springs Substation to serve about 20,000 households.

Greener sources of power are an important way of developing a more sustainable earth-friendly future. Modern biomass electric conversion facilities provide clean, renewable energy that together with wind and solar, will help meet that requirement. There are about 200 biomass energy facilities in the U.S. , including nine in Minnesota including downtown St. Paul , Shakopee, Benson and the University of Minnesota-Morris .

“Biomass energy represents an important component of the state's renewable energy future because it provides base load, or around-the-clock, energy that can complement wind and solar energy,” said Michael Krause , President of Kandiyohi Development Partners, the Minnesota-based developer of the project.

Krause added that the biomass energy project would create about 100 jobs during construction, 20 permanent jobs operating the facility, and at least 20 more jobs in wood fuel handling and transport. He said the facility will be privately-financed and will also add $6-7 million to the county's tax base.

Clean wood chips to fuel the facility will come from management of forested areas, including tree-trimming around buildings and utility lines, land-clearing for development, diseased tree removal and storm damage. A proposal for over 6,000 acres of tree farming in Wright County to supply this facility is being planned.

The Partnership exists to enhance the business climate of Wright County and help create more jobs in Wright County . The strategies the Partnership uses to achieve its mission include being an information resource and finding technical assistance; aiding business development through Business Retention & Expansion visits, providing financing resources, and providing business information and training through seminars and workshops. Also, the Partnership markets Wright County to business site locators, and maintains an excellent website, which includes a listing of commercial and industrial property available in Wright County (see www.wrightpartnership.org ). The Partnership also assists with Workforce Development and has gathered economic statistical information, which is available on its website.