LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If the winds of change are favorable, customers' of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company will receive part of their energy from wind energy in the near future.

The state's two largest utilities filed a "notice of intent" today with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, stating that they plan to file a request to add wind energy to their portfolio of energy sources and to be allowed to recover the additional costs associated with the renewable energy source. LG&E and KU already generate 109 megawatts of hydroelectric power at Ohio Falls on the Ohio River and Dix Dam on Lake Herrington. If the KPSC approves the filing, the two utilities would have 109.5 megawatts of wind capacity as well.

"Already, we have invested in clean coal research, carbon sequestration studies and improved energy efficiency programs," said Victor A. Staffieri, E.ON U.S. Chairman, CEO and president. "If approved, today's request would give E.ON U.S. an additional tool to help us further address environmental concerns."

The two utilities initiated a competitive bid process for renewable energy in 2007 and narrowed the field of respondents before reaching an agreement with Grand Ridge Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Invenergy LLC.

According to the agreement, the Grand Ridge Energy Center in LaSalle County, Ill., will provide 109.5 megawatts of wind capacity to LG&E and KU for 20 years at a cost that is roughly 5 to 6 cents higher than the companies' average energy costs per kilowatt hour.

The companies plan to file the request on around Sept. 28 and request approval from the Commission by March 23, 2010.



E.ON U.S., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a subsidiary of E.ON A.G., the world's largest investor-owned energy services provider. E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company that owns and operates Louisville Gas and Electric Company, a regulated utility that serves 326,000 natural gas and 401,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties, and Kentucky Utilities Company, a regulated electric utility in Lexington, Ky., that serves 536,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia.


About Invenergy LLC — Founded in Chicago in 2001, Invenergy is focused on the development, ownership, operation and management of large-scale wind energy and other clean energy generation assets in North America and Europe.

Invenergy, one of the top five independent wind energy developers in North America, has 2,000 MW of wind projects and 2,200 MW of clean natural-gas fired generating projects in operation.