PPM ENERGY OFFERS LARGE GIFT TO IOWA LAKES

The new Wind Energy and Turbine Technology facility at Iowa Lakes Community College is the recipient of a large gift from PPM Energy, one of the nation’s leading providers of wind power.

At a special recognition ceremony Friday afternoon in Estherville, Mark Perryman, manager of wind operations and maintenance for all of PPM’s wind farms in the Midwest and the Northeastern region of the United States, officially announced a gift of $100,000.

Perryman has worked with the program since its inception in 2004 as a member of the advisory committee. It was PPM Energy’s strong commitment to expanding the relationship with Iowa Lakes that led to the gift that will build one classroom in the proposed new facility.

"I am delighted to expand our relationship with the Iowa Lakes Community College wind energy technician training program with the addition of the PPM Energy classroom on the Estherville Campus," said Perryman in his remarks. "PPM’s aggressive growth plans make the ability to hire a steady stream of capable, safety-conscious employees crucial to our business."

In accepting the check from PPM Energy, College President Harold Prior said he appreciated the commitment Mark’s firm has to the future of the wind industry.

"The commitment and support that Mark Perryman and PPM Energy have extended to our Wind Energy Turbine and Technology program has been and continues to be a critical part of our program success," said President Prior. "Today’s financial gift makes the construction of Phase I of our facility expansion possible."

PPM Energy (www.ppmenergy.com) now has more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in operation or under construction. The strength of its renewable project pipeline has allowed the company to increase its 2010 target by more than 50 percent to at least 3,500 MW developed or controlled by PPM Energy.

PPM Energy balances its supply portfolio with sales to wholesale customers, placing almost all of its output in long-term contracts. Major customers include cooperatives such as Great River Energy; the cities of Seattle, Sacramento, Eugene, Pasadena, and Anaheim; investor-owned utilities such as Xcel Energy and Alliant Energy; and the federal Bonneville Power Administration.

PPM Energy also creates innovative new products to meet customer needs such as operations and maintenance services and build-to-sell products, and recently announced an expansion into Canada.