(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today that the national renewable energy company NaturEner USA is now set to proceed with construction on the 189 megawatt (MW) Rim Rock wind power project in Montana's Glacier and Toole Counties.  NaturEner says it expects to achieve commercial operation on the Rim Rock project by the end of 2012.

Baucus was instrumental in crafting the Production Tax Credit for wind energy, which helps make projects like Rim Rock possible, as Chairman of the Senate committee that oversees the tax code.  Baucus also brought NaturEner's Chief Development Officer for North America, Bill Alexander, to Montana last year to participate in panels with other energy leaders at Baucus' 5th Economic Development Summit in Butte.

"The Rim Rock Wind Farm is one more opportunity for Montana to be a leader in the energy future, and I am thrilled to see it moving forward. This is great news for Montana jobs and American energy security," Baucus said. 

NaturEner announced today it is ready to proceed with construction of the Rim Rock project after securing a construction loan and the promise of a $285 million tax-equity capital contribution from San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) once the project has reached commercial operation.  'Tax-equity' contributions are made possible because of the Production Tax Credit Baucus reauthorized in 2009.  Through such arrangements, investors, in this case SDG&E, provide capital contributions in return for collecting a tax credit based on total electricity produced by the project.

Rim Rock will have access to transmission via the Montana Alberta Tie Line (MATL).  Baucus was instrumental in securing funding for MATL through Western Area Power Administration.  Without the ability to transmit power, projects like Rim Rock would not be possible.

The Production Tax Credit expires at the end of 2012 and Baucus is currently fighting to extend it.

Additional information is available HERE.  

Contact: Kate Downen 406-224-5056/Jennifer Donohue 202-224-2651/Kathy Weber 406-329-7980

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