MDU Resources Intends to Help Develop Green Power Express Transmission Project

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Tue Jul 7, 2009 7:30am EDT

BISMARCK, N.D.--(Business Wire)--
MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) announced today that it intends to
participate with ITC Holdings Corp. in developing the Green Power Express
transmission project, which would transport renewable energy from wind-rich
Plains states to major metropolitan markets. 

The transmission project would enable development of the enormous wind energy
potential in North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa, which currently is severely
limited by the lack of transmission capacity. The Green Power Express would be
the first high-voltage line that is intended to provide transmission to markets
for wind developers in these areas. It would run approximately 3,000 miles
through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and
Indiana. 

"We are excited to be part of this groundbreaking transmission project," said
Terry D. Hildestad, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "This region has some of
the best wind resources in the United States - North Dakota has been called the
Saudi Arabia of wind - and this transmission project will make development of
that renewable energy feasible. 

"The Green Power Express can play a major role in helping the country fulfill
its goals of making wind power a significant part of our electricity supply, and
reducing carbon emissions," Hildestad said. "The project also would provide a
significant boost to the economies of North Dakota and neighboring states." 

The Green Power Express would be a highly efficient, extra-high-voltage 765
kilovolt transmission line, capable of transporting 12,000 megawatts of
electricity. It would consist of three interconnected loops in North and South
Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, with extensions from these loops into Wisconsin,
Illinois and Indiana. The transmission line would interconnect with existing
lower-voltage transmission facilities, similar to on- and off-ramps on an
interstate highway. 

"The Green Power Express is a good fit with our existing diversified businesses,
which include electricity generation and delivery, as well as construction and
maintenance of electric transmission and distribution facilities," Hildestad
said. "The next step is to negotiate definitive agreements with ITC and other
potential partners. We are confident that ITC will be an outstanding partner.
They have focused solely on the development and operation of electricity
transmission, and they have a strong track record of successfully operating
existing transmission facilities." 

MDU Resources Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P MidCap
400 index, provides value-added natural resource products and related services
that are essential to energy and transportation infrastructure, operating in
three core lines of business: energy, utility resources and construction
materials. MDU Resources includes natural gas and oil production, natural gas
pipelines and energy services, electric and natural gas utilities, construction
services, and construction materials and contracting. For more information about
MDU Resources, see the company's Web site at www.mdu.com.





MDU Resources Group, Inc.
Financial:
Vernon A. Raile, 701-530-1003
Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
or
Phyllis A. Rittenbach, 701-530-1057
Director - Investor Relations
or
Media:
Rick Matteson, 701-530-1700
Director of Communications and Public Affairs 



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