NorthWestern Energy Renames Generating Station to Honor the Memory of Executive Officer

BUTTE, Mont., March 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) today said that its Board of Directors have renamed the recently commissioned Mill Creek Generating Station as the Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek to posthumously recognize Gates' significant contributions to the company.  

"The NorthWestern Energy family is mourning the loss of a great leader and a great friend," said Bob Rowe, President and CEO.  "Dave was a mentor, a friend and a visionary.  Over the past week, we've been reminded of the extraordinary contributions Dave made to the company, to our communities and to the entire utility industry.  As the leader who oversaw the successful completion of the Mill Creek Generating Station, the Board believed it was appropriate to rename the plant in permanent memory and recognition of the man and friend that we will forever miss."  

The Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek is NorthWestern Energy's first new generating plant to be built in Montana and marks an important step in the company's post-deregulation strategy to operate in Montana as a vertically integrated utility.  The natural gas-fired plant, located near Anaconda, Mont., entered commercial service on January 1, 2011 and provides regulating services to NorthWestern's transmission system in Montana.  

The resolution unanimously passed by the Board states:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of NorthWestern Corporation (the "Company") expresses its deepest respect and sympathy concerning the untimely death of David G. Gates, Vice President - Wholesale Operations for the Company on March 19, 2011; and  

WHEREAS, the Company has lost a great leader and a great friend whose wisdom, warm humor and especially his friendship will be greatly missed and whose many valuable contributions to the Company, the community of Butte, the State of Montana, and the utility industry will be remembered always and will provide benefits for years to come; and  

WHEREAS, Mr. Gates was instrumental in steering the Company's efforts to return to being a vertically integrated utility by leading the Company's successful construction and completion of the Mill Creek Generating Station; and

WHEREAS, the Board and the Company desire to honor the memory of Mr. Gates and his more than 30 years of service and many contributions to the Company;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board that the Company shall honor the memory of Mr. Gates and the significant and lasting contributions he made to all facets of the Company by renaming the Mill Creek Generating Station the "Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek."

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Company is hereby authorized to furnish a suitable identifying memorial marker or markers and signage to identify the generating station as the Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the individuals appointed by the Board as executive officers of the Company (such officers and any of their Board-appointed successors shall be referred to herein as the "Authorized Officers"), are hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of the Company to take all such further actions and to do or cause to be done any and all acts as such Authorized Officers may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intentions of these resolutions; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all actions previously taken by any of the Authorized Officers in connection with or in furtherance of the foregoing resolutions are hereby ratified and approved in all respects.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned have executed this Consent in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument, as of the 26th day of March, 2011.

At the time of his death, Gates was responsible for NorthWestern's electric and natural gas transmission, and electric and natural gas supply.  However, Gates held several different engineering and management positions during his 35-year career that began as a summer laborer in Lewistown, Montana.

About NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 665,000 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the Company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

SOURCE NorthWestern Corporation