Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Seek Approval to Build New Generation Facility

RAPID CITY, S.D., Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) utility subsidiaries Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power announced today that they have filed for a certificate of public convenience and necessity with the Wyoming Public Service Commission to construct and operate a new $237 million natural-gas-fired electric generation facility within Cheyenne city limits. The proposed facility will include one simple-cycle combustion turbine unit with a net capacity of approximately 37 megawatts that will be wholly owned by Cheyenne Light. It will also include one combined-cycle unit with a net capacity of approximately 95 megawatts that will be jointly owned by Cheyenne Light and Black Hills Power, with Cheyenne Light owning 40 megawatts and Black Hills Power owning 55 megawatts.

"This joint project represents a win-win for our customers in the Black Hills area and Cheyenne," said David R. Emery, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Black Hills Power must plan for future compliance as federal environmental regulatory requirements will impact some of our older coal-fired generating facilities, and Cheyenne Light must prepare for the growing electricity demand. This jointly owned generation facility allows each utility to cost-effectively serve the changing electricity needs of our customers."

If approved by the Wyoming Public Service Commission, construction would begin in 2012, and the facility would begin serving customers in 2014.

Cheyenne Light had previously filed a CPCN with the Wyoming Public Service Commission in August to construct three simple-cycle combustion turbine units with a total gross capacity of 120 megawatts at an estimated cost of $158 million. This application is being withdrawn and replaced with the joint application described in this release. After Cheyenne Light filed its original CPCN in August, Black Hills Power completed its resource plan, which forecasted the future electricity needs of its customers and determined the most cost-effective generation resources to meet those needs. Modifying Cheyenne Light's planned generation facility to also meet the needs of Black Hills Power provides a cost-effective means to meet the needs of both utilities.

The combined-cycle and simple-cycle turbines will be fueled by natural gas, which will position Black Hills Power and Cheyenne Light to meet current and future U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emission regulations and policies and diversify Black Hills Power's and Cheyenne Light's generation portfolios. Additionally, both units are capable of backing up intermittent renewable generation resources, such as wind, as needed in the future.

Black Hills Power, Inc.

Black Hills Power is the legacy utility business of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) and has been delivering energy for more than 127 years. The electric utility serves 68,000 customers in 25 communities in western South Dakota, northeastern Wyoming, and southeastern Montana.

Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Company

Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power Company, a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH), serves 39,000 electric customers and 34,000 natural gas customers in the greater Cheyenne, Wyo., area.

Black Hills Corporation

Black Hills Corp. — a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice — is based in Rapid City, S.D., with corporate offices in Denver and Papillion, Neb. The company serves 762,000 natural gas and electric utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company's non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. Black Hills' 2,100 employees partner to produce results that improve life with energy. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements regarding the cost of the project and our ability to comply with future environmental regulations,  are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions which we believe are reasonable based on current expectations and projections about future events and industry conditions and trends affecting our business. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that, among other things, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including the factors discussed above, the risk factors described in Item 1A of Part I of our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time.

New factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, or the extent to which any such factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We assume no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Black Hills Corp.