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Horizon Wind Energy Expands in the Upper Midwest

Nation's third-largest wind-power company to open development office inMinneapolis and commission first turbine at wind farm inNorthern Iowa

HOUSTON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Horizon Wind Energy, LLC, a leading wind project developer, owner, and operator, owned by EDP Renovaveis, the 4th largest wind energy player in the world, today announced that it has opened a development office inMinneapolis to lead the company's expansion in the Upper Midwest, one of the country's most promising regions for wind-power development.

Antonio Martins da Costa, CEO of Horizon Wind Energy, said: "We are pleased to open a development office inMinneapolis, the main commercial and financial center for the Upper Midwest region. The region is a key area for Horizon as we expand our operations and capabilities; our development office inMinneapolis will provide Horizon with a solid presence in the region.Iowa andMinnesota are the third and fourth largest states respectively in terms of wind energy production in the country."

Horizon also announced that it will formally commission the first turbine at its Pioneer Prairie wind project on September 26. Pioneer Prairie is located inIowa along theMinnesota state line inHoward andMitchell counties. Once fully operational, the wind farm will have an installed capacity of 300.3 MW of clean, renewable energy, with enough power to provide more than 90,000Iowa homes with energy. Horizon currently operates the Prairie Star wind farm inMower County, Minnesota, which opened in 2007 and provides 100 MW of generating capacity, enough to meet the needs of 30,000 homes.

"Pioneer Prairie will be the second major project for Horizon in the Upper Midwest, following the successful development of Prairie Star last year," Gabriel Alonso, Chief Operating Officer of Horizon, added. "The Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm will bring significant benefits to its surrounding communities, including the creation of employment opportunities and a clean source of electricity."

Horizon will host an open house for itsMinneapolis development office on Thursday, September 25 at 400 First Avenue North, Suite 535. A ribbon-cutting celebration for the Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm will take place the following day nearMcIntire, Iowa.

About Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm

The Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm ribbon cutting will celebrate the commissioning of the first turbine, with the full 300.3 MW in full operations in spring 2009. The wind farm will consist of 182 Vestas V82 1.65 MW turbines. Each turbine is 262 feet high at the turbine hub with a rotor that is 269 feet in diameter and the overall height is 398 feet. Approximately 300 supportive landowners participate under long-term lease and easement agreements that cover turbines, access roads, transmission corridors and wind access.

The Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm will prevent the annual emission of 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a contributor to climate change; 3.5 million pounds of nitrogen oxide, which causes smog; and nearly 6 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain. In addition, the Wind Farm displaces 48,000 pounds of mercury each year. The overall environmental benefits are equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off the road.

About Horizon Wind Energy

Horizon Wind Energy develops, constructs, owns and operates wind farms throughoutNorth America. Based inHouston, Texas with over 20 offices acrossthe United States, Horizon has developed more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) and operates over 1,500 MW of wind farms.

Horizon is owned by EDP Renovaveis S.A. ("EDPR"), a global leader in the renewable energy sector. EDPR has undergone exceptional development in recent years. Its installed capacity increased four-fold between 2005 and 2007, becoming the fourth largest wind energy producer in the world. EDPR is listed on the Euronext Lisbon Stock Exchange.

Energias dePortugal, S.A. ("EDP"), the parent company of EDPR, is a vertically-integrated utility company, headquartered inLisbon, Portugal. Through its various constituent businesses, EDP holds significant electricity and gas operations inEurope,Brazil, andthe United States.

For more information, visit www.horizonwind.com and www.edprenovaveis.com.

SOURCE Horizon Wind Energy, LLC