I would like to clarify some recent information you may have received regarding Trans-Alta’s proposed Canadian River Wind Project near Hanna, Oklahoma. At this time, the project is in its very early stages of development. There is still much work to do in order to determine if the wind project is viable which includes a continuation of environmental and wildlife studies and wind resource assessment, engineering and design and future stakeholder outreach and consultation. At this early stage, construction activities would not be anticipated for at least a couple of years.

Our development team values open dialogue and transparency, and we readily acknowledge that residents in McIntosh County have concerns about wind development. We look forward to engaging with members of the community to understand their concerns through future communications for the project. This includes open houses and other measures prescribed by state regulatory processes and by TransAlta’s project development standards.

We appreciate that our recent filing with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (CCC) in early September appears to have created the impression that construction of the project is imminent. Please let me assure you that this is not the case.

State legislation under the Oklahoma Wind Energy Act requires wind developers interested in developing wind in the state to file what they call a Notice of Intent to Build witin six months after the wind developer submits proposed turbine locations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). What we filed was essentially the first step in the CCC process. Subsequent steps include commitments to engage with local stakeholders, landowners, oil and gas entities and other utilities via project mailouts, public open houses and formal notices. All of these activities, as well as formal approval of a development application would precede our decision to actually build the project.

I would like to highlight that we have been in contact with many local landowners, both farmers and ranchers, within our project area and have secured wind lease agreements totaling approximately 22,000 aces. If this wind farm project goes ahead, we expect it will bring long-term benefits to the community, such as job creation, lease revenue, local tax revenue and clean energy that will contributive to Oklahoma’s sustainable future.

We aim to proceed with the developent of Canadian River thoughtfully and in collaboration with the community.