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For the second time in three years, PPL Montana has won the "Outstanding Stewardship of America's Rivers Award," recognizing the company's role in managing environmental and recreational resources at its eight hydroelectric power plants and one storage reservoir along the Missouri and Madison rivers.

The highly competitive award, given by the National Hydropower Association, was presented to PPL Montana at the organization's annual conference today (4/26) in Washington, D.C. PPL Montana, which also received the award in 2002, is among only 10 hydro generation companies across the United States to receive the award this year.

"The National Hydropower Association is delighted to recognize PPL Montana and all of its partners for their work to preserve and enhance the natural and recreational resources at the hydroelectric power plants on the Missouri and Madison rivers," said Linda Church Ciocci, executive director of the National Hydropower Association.

"Our rivers are national treasures, and the hydroelectric industry does not take its stewarding responsibility lightly," she said. "The efforts of PPL Montana to restore and enhance our rivers for the betterment of all serves as a fine example of the balance we must strike in preserving our river resources, while ensuring affordable electricity. We salute their achievement."

"We're proud of our continuing efforts to generate safe, reliable and affordable power while protecting fisheries, wildlife, water quality and habitat resources around these historic and biologically rich rivers," said Brad Spencer, vice president and chief operating officer of PPL Montana. "Striking that balance is key to our commitment to the environment, our communities and our 500 employees here in Montana."

PPL Montana has committed $23 million for recreation, fisheries, water quality and wildlife habitat development along a 524-mile portion of the Madison-Missouri River corridor.

Spencer credited the company's relationships with its agency and private partners and their significant contributions for making its hydro stewardship and conservation programs possible.

"PPL Montana is privileged to have strong relationships with public and private organizations to partner in creative conservation solutions that enhance land and water resources near our hydro facilities," Spencer said. "We work cooperatively with many government agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bureau of Land Management; U.S. Forest Service; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and several nonprofit organizations such as American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, the Montana Conservation Corps and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy."

Among a diverse array of fish and wildlife projects, PPL Montana has worked with its partners to restore the rare fluvial Arctic grayling, pallid sturgeon and other fish species of concern into the Madison and Missouri River watersheds. Along river shorelines, the company has helped restore cottonwood, migratory bird and wildlife habitats.

The National Hydropower Association established its national award program in 1994 to recognize members of the hydroelectric industry that protect the nation's rivers and champion hydropower as a key part of the nation's energy future.

Founded in 1983, the National Hydropower Association is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the U.S. hydropower industry. It represents more than 61 percent of the nation's hydropower facilities licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, representing about 80,000 megawatts. Its members include private utilities, publicly owned utilities, independent power producers, engineers, equipment providers, consultants and law firms. The association seeks to protect, promote and enhance the nation's hydropower resources.

PPL Montana has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. With about 500 employees, PPL Montana operates the coal-fired Colstrip and Corette power plants and 11 hydroelectric facilities along the Missouri, Flathead, Clark Fork and Madison rivers and Rosebud Creek. PPL EnergyPlus, another PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) subsidiary, operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale energy market. More information is available at www.pplmontana.com.

SOURCE: PPL Montana

CONTACT: David Hoffman, PPL Corporation, +1-406-457-5300, Fax:
+1-610-774-5281

Web site: http://www.pplweb.com/

Web site: http://www.pplmontana.com/