U.S. EPA Awards Black Hills Energy 2011 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award in Iowa

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Hills Energy – Iowa Gas has received a 2011 ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Housing Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This award recognizes the contribution Black Hills Energy has made, working closely with home builders in its communities, to energy-efficient construction. The utility verified and incented the construction of 574 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year throughout its Iowa service territory. Collectively, these homes will save Black Hills Energy customers approximately $256,500 on utility bills each year.

"Black Hills Energy is honored to receive the ENERGY STAR award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the third consecutive year," said Stuart Wevik, Black Hills vice president of utility operations. "We are committed to helping customers use energy wisely without sacrificing comfort. And we appreciate the continued support and partnership of our local contractors who have been instrumental to the success of this effort."

To earn the ENERGY STAR qualification, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the EPA. These homes are at least 20 percent more efficient than homes built to local code and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes.

"While other builders may claim to build energy-efficient homes, ENERGY STAR builder partners back it up," said Jonathan Passe, Acting Manager for EPA's ENERGY STAR Residential Branch. "Their houses undergo a rigorous independent inspection and testing process to ensure that they deliver real efficiency, comfort, durability and value for homebuyers."

For more information about the energy efficiency programs available to Black Hills Energy's residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in Iowa, go to www.BHEhowto.com or call 888-567-0799.

Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company, LLC d/b/a Black Hills Energy

Black Hills Energy serves 151,000 natural gas customers in 130 Iowa communities and is a recipient of the U.S. EPA 2011 ENERGY STAR® Leadership in Housing Award. Black Hills Energy is a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH).

Black Hills Corporation

Black Hills Corp. — a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice — is based in Rapid City, S.D., with corporate offices in Denver and Papillion, Neb. The company serves 762,000 natural gas and electric utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company's non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. Black Hills' 2,100 employees partner to produce results that improve life with energy. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 126,000 new homes were constructed to meet ENERGY STAR guidelines in 2010, by partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

SOURCE Black Hills Corp.

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