Xcel Energy Is Planning to Build New Transmission Lines in Southwestern Minnesota to Help

INVITATION TO PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE PROPOSED PARK FALLS SUBSTATION TO NEW LYMANTOWN SUBSTATION NEW 115kV TRANSMISSION LINE AND SUBSTATION PROJECT NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY (XCEL ENERGY) Thursday, November 11, 2010 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Park Falls City Hall – City Council Chambers 400 Fourth Avenue South Park Falls, WI 54552

You are invited to attend a public open house concerning Northern States Power Company’s (Xcel Energy) proposal to build a new transmission substation (to be called the Lymantown Substation) and a new 115 kilovolt (“kV”) transmission line connecting the existing Park Falls Substation to the new Lymantown Substation located in Park Falls, Price County, Wisconsin (see attached figure). Xcel Energy seeks feedback from the public on this Project prior to submitting a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”) with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (“PSCW”) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) later this year. At the open house, Xcel Energy will have maps and information concerning proposed Project, structure types, right-of-way, the permitting process and other issues of interest. You will also have the opportunity to meet with key Project staff to discuss the proposed schedule, the Project itself and to have staff answer questions which your may have. Please be aware that the information available is preliminary at this time.

Project Information The Project is needed to provide a source of sufficient power to the Park Falls area for a planned biorefinery facility at the site indicated on the attached figure. The Project consists of constructing approximately 1-1.4 miles of new 115kV transmission line from the Park Falls Substation located on the north end of Park Falls, proceeding south to the planned location of the new Lymantown Substation located at the proposed biorefinery site in Park Falls. Three alternative routes are being proposed for the new 115kV transmission line, as indicated on the attached figure.

While new right-of-way (“ROW”) is needed for each of the proposed alternative routes, sharing existing ROW is possible for each route. Two of the proposed alternative routes share ROW with an existing 34.5kV distribution line, which could either be underbuilt with the proposed 115kV line or share ROW with the existing 34.5kV line. A portion of the proposed alternative routes for the 115kV transmission line and the new Lymantown Substation would be located on land owned by the proposed biorefinery facility. Xcel Energy will include analysis of the proposed alternative routes in the CPCN application.

What’s Next? Before the proposed Project can be constructed, Xcel Energy will apply for a CPCN from the PSCW and DNR. The PSCW will make the final decision on the proposed Project. Xcel Energy plans to submit the CPCN application in the next several months. The public open house is designed to provide attendees with estimated Project information, schedule, and the state permit process, and to answer questions and obtain public input. Project team members will be available to answer your questions and discuss the Project. The permitting process emphasizes public participation and we encourage you to attend and provide your questions or comments.

You are welcome at anytime during the hours of the open house. If you cannot attend, please contact one of the Xcel Energy representatives listed below and they will send you information or have an Xcel Energy representative arrange to speak with you at another time. For more information about the Project, please contact Phil Lysdahl, Senior Siting & Land Rights Agent at 715.737.1172 or [email protected], or Joe Sedarski, Senior Permitting Analyst at 612.330.6435 or [email protected].