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<br /> <br />Great River Energy's service area stretches <br />across Minnesota, including many areas that consistently <br />have been leaders in job growth and energy usage. This <br />growth is expected to continue as will the need for <br />additional electrical generating capacity. <br />To meet this need, Great River <br />Energy plans to construct <br />the Elk River <br />Peaking <br />Station, an <br />approximately <br />175 megawatt <br />(MW) power <br />generation facility in <br />the city of Elk River, <br />Sherburne County. <br /> <br /> <br />The plant will be built <br />on a site already <br />owned by Great River <br />Energy. This site <br />currently includes <br />Great River <br />Energy's corporate <br />headquarters and Elk <br />River Station, a waste-to-energy facility which uses <br />refuse-derived fuel to generate up to 40 MW of electricity. <br /> <br />Upon approvals from state and federal authorities, <br />construction will begin in spring 2008. The plant will <br />begin providing peaking power in spring 2009 to Great <br />River Energy's 28 member cooperatives, including <br />Connexus Energy, which distributes electricity to <br />Sherburne County and the City of Elk River. <br /> <br />The plant will consist of a simple cycle combustion <br />turbine. The primary fuel for the facility will be natural <br />gas, chosen for its low air emissions and ready <br />availability from a nearby natural gas pipeline. <br /> <br />17845 East Highway 10 <br />P.O. Box 800 <br />Elk River, MN 55330-0800 <br />Phone: 763-241-2200 <br />www.GreatRiverEnergy.com <br /> <br />Meeting future energy needs <br /> <br />During winter months, when the demand for natural gas <br />is high from home heating and other high priority uses, <br />the plant will operate on ultra low sulfur fuel oil. <br /> <br />The Elk River Peaking Plant will normally be operated <br />during times of peak electrical demand, which generally <br />occur during periods of very high or very low <br />temperatures. In addition, Great River Energy <br />occasionally may be called upon to operate the facility to <br />support voltage on the area's transmission grid or for <br />other grid support functions. Great River Energy <br />anticipates that the peaking plant will operate between <br />500 and 1,100 hours per year. Most operation will occur <br />during summer periods of significant air conditioner use. <br /> <br /> <br />Elk River Peaking Plant, which will generate <br />about 175 megawatts of electricity, will <br />resemble the generating unit pictured above. <br /> <br />GREAT RIVER ENERGy@B <br /> <br />A Tuuch"unc [""'.y' 0~pe""'''' q" Y <br /> <br />5/24/07 <br />