Paul B. Johnson 612-219-3719 E-mail: pj12cb6e6@westpost.

net Director Renewable Project Developmenta"Energy and Utility Industry JOB OBJECTIVE Seeking opportunities as a senior-level manager or director of renewable project development and marketing to apply project management and strategic thinking to resolve issues and overcome barriers to minimize project development risks and cost and achieve profitable project marketing objectives. PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS a Successfully assembled and directed wind project development team and external consultants in 2005 resulting in the addition of energy produced by over 200 MW of new wind projects being added to Minnesota Poweras energy supply by summer 2 009. The success of this effort supported major change in company renewable str ategy to build/own its own wind generation to meet all future renewable energy r equirements rather than expand existing biomass or hydro resources. a Successfully directed and completed major permitting in December 2010 of a 30 0 MW wind project sited in southeastern MN, sustained strong landowner support d uring permit process and obtained unanimous approval by Minnesota PUC of site pe rmit and certificate of need and unanimous County Board approval of permits need ed for two transmission lines and three substation sites. Local and state media noticed ease and essentially ano issuea reaction for these permits compared to high profile and permit process delays of other projects. a Used strategic and problem solving ability to develop and successfully impleme nt cost ( over $ 800,000) and time (3 to 6 months) savings approach to avoid nee d to post costly letter of credit for several interconnection study milestones. This approach was adopted as standard approach. a After being short-listed, led team negotiations for 150 MW power purchase agre ement (PPA) with MN electric utility to near execution version of agreement. Exc ept for surprise of last minute (aat costa) underbid by competitor, would have h ad 150 MW PPA executed in Spring 2010. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE April 2009a"Present Sr. Manager, Development North central and Eastern Regions with RES Americas, M inneapolis, MN, a national wind and solar project development and construction c ompany. I have management responsibility of regional office in Minneapolis un der Regional Vice President Minneapolis Office has active project pipeline of nearly 2000 MW. a Direct project management responsibility for development and power marketing o f 300 MW Wind Project in southeastern, MN Successfully initiated and navigated permitting to advanced stage resulting in MPUC unanimous October 2010 approval of site permit and certificate of need. Led effort to successfully gain unanimo us Mower County Commissioner approval of permits for two transmission routes and three substation sites. Provided direction and support for project interconnec tion options and study evaluation and effective and timely interaction with Midw est Independent System Operator (MISO) staff. a Established and maintained project marketing relationships and RFP follow-up w ith electric utilities in MN, WI, IA, OH and TN. What was result? Led to RFP a Actively participate represented Minneapolis Office onWind on Wires policy gr oups for MN and WI. a As member of company-wide management team participated in 2010 effort to evalu

ate and refine RES Americas business strategy and identify key implementation ef forts. a Actively monitor renewable market project development/sale opportunities which has resulted in relationships with new power purchase prospects in upper Midwes t and Eastern US. Follow-up ongoing for both wind and solar project opportuniti es. a Led effort to evaluate potential biomass fuel opportunity and key contributor to biomass fuel business plan which is under executive management review. a Identified and completed initial due diligence for potential acquisition of ne ar commercial biomass fuel planting, harvesting and combustion technologies for utility-scale greenfield and retrofit biomass power generation projects. a Completed preliminary work on strategic approach for wind project development in eastern US based on current and projected changes in renewable market and ele ctric utility generation plans. Several key positions with Minnesota Power, Duluth, MN [a 1800 MW investor-ow ned electric utility serving 140,000 customers and over 50% of its power sold to taconite processing and pulp and paper industries located in northeastern MN September 1979a"April 2009 Renewable Energy Project Development Manager a Developed and led turbine 2008 purchase solicitation, screening and contract n egotiation process which resulted in executed contract for 33 turbine project in North Dakota. a Served as Project development manager for Minnesota Poweras first build-own (7 5 MW) wind project in North Dakota. (Update note: Construction began in June 20 10.) a Developed and gained management support for capital budget and project develop ment plan for several 100 MW of wind generation development. Supported executiv e managementas effort to secure budget and initial project approval. a Initiated and continued to direct multi-year wind prospecting effort which res ulted in met tower siting and installation on several project site in northeaste rn Minnesota. Prospecting effort also identified large area with high average w inds within economic distance of grid interconnection. Oversaw successful wind option acquisition effort with sufficient land and wind rights to support substa ntial wind project development. a Provided site control and project information necessary to maintain interconne ction study process and avoid higher study costs. a Developed and directed 2004 and 2007 All Source Request for Proposals through bid completeness, evaluation, short-list, contract negotiation and filing with s tate public utilities commission (all filed contracts approved). a Successfully led negotiation team for four wind-based power purchase agreement s totally 156 MW. a Successfully led negotiation team to secure wind turbines in Spring 2007 for M innesota Poweras first rate based wind project that that achieved commercial ope ration late June 2008. a Developed, maintains and directs implementation of renewable strategy responsi ve to corporate strategy and direction of key state and federal policies. a Developed and managed relationships with major wind developers, turbine suppli ers and regulators essential for continuing to increase wind portion of Minnesot a Power renewable power supply. a Managed hand-off to project construction team of permitted, sited projects wit h turbines. a Provided liaison as needed with MP executive management, outside consultants a nd key landowners to resolve issues and keep wind generation project progress on schedule. September 2002a"October 2006

Strategic Initiativesa"Project Leader a Directed development and implementation of long term power supply request for proposals for renewable, bridge transactions and long tern purchases; evaluation and PPA negotiation completion by mid-2005. a Led multi-area effort to develop and maintain MPas long term plan and develop and defend MPas biennial 15-year Resource Plan filed in September 2004. a Extensively used power system simulation modeling to help meet executive manag ement resource planning needs. a Developed long term power sales responses to RFPs and manage post-bid submitta l follow-up through buyer screening and short-list announcement a Provided strategic and technical direction to renewables policy and RFP opport unities; also pricing guidance. a Identified long term power market and generation technology developments, tren ds, events and provide assessment executive management. a Led and manage multi-area generation strategy development to support executive management decisions. a Managed long term generation asset sale process including buyer due diligence and definitive agreement development. a Tracked and provided assessments of regional generation development and perfor mance of existing regional generation. June 1999a"August 2002 Generation Development a"Project Leader a Managed internal generation development agreement compliance. a Identified and screened generation development opportunities as key member of generation development team and lead project due diligence under executive manag ement direction. a Led effort to deploy and integrate price forecasting and generation opportunit y evaluation tools into management decision processes. a Monitored electric industry and key data sources for competitive intelligence and use this information to improve timing and focus of generation development. January 1998a"May 1999 Energy Sourcing Consultant a Led project team to assess price discovery and forecasting needs and tools an d present recommendations for credible and responsive price discovery and foreca sting function to executive management. a Developed and maintained capacity option portfolio for executive management st rategic initiatives. a As internal consultant to MPas power marketing business unit (MPEX), worked w ith MPEX executive management to develop an aggressive 5-year growth plan. a Served as project manager for commodity trading system selection project that included vendor assessment, MPEX CTS business requirements analysis and developm ent of CTS request for information and implementation schedule. a Evaluated US generation divestiture activity and present findings to executive management. December 1996a"December 1997 Strategy and Growth Consultant a As internal management consultant to generation and power marketing business u nit leaders, led effort to develop and translate strategy into tactical projects and initiatives that have improved profits and market position. a Strategy and growth consultant contribution to Generation Business Unit Strate gy Team resulted in executive management approval of own vs. sell generation as sessment. a Planned and directed in-house competitive electric utility industry simulation workshop for retail marketing, transmission, power marketing and generation bu siness units. a Successfully gained Minnesota PUC approval for much abbreviated 1998-2012 Reso

urce Plan filing. a Established and led commodity trading system selection team for MPEX executiv e management; this effort resulted in a recommendation to MPEX management that a ddressed MPEX business requirements and met fast track schedule and budget const raints. December 1995-December 1996 Strategic Regulatory Planner a Served as project manager of power marketing business assessment used by execu tive management used to launch a power marketing division called MPEX. a As consultant to MPEX, developed MPEX 1997-2000 Business Operations Plan for e xecutive management. a As consultant to MPEX, developed and managed ten implementation projects desig ned to establish and enhance essential MPEX capabilities. a Served as strategy development consultant for electric utility power marketing and generation business units. a Led effort to design and gain broad-based intervenor support and unanimous pub lic utility commission approval for Minnesotaas first resource plan filing date extension (16-month) for an investor-owned utility. a Provided technical and regulatory strategy guidance to company lobbyists. a Served on leadership group that developed grassroots employee and retiree acti on network called ACTNET. a Served on Minnesota Power's PAC Steering Committee (political action committee ) that focuses on supporting federal congressman and senators who support Minnes ota Power's position on key issues. ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AT MINNESOTA POWER Project manager for alternative energy (biomass, peat, refuse-derived fuel) an d aquaculture research and field demonstrations and associated EPRI, DOE, State of Minnesota and Edison Electric Institute technical liaison and cofunding deve lopment. As Research Administrator directed research staff and company-wide res earch projects during 1986 to 1989. ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY COMMITTEE OPPORTUNITIES Edison Electric Institute Renewables Committee (Committee developed policy pr oposals on federal renewable policy initiatives to reflect position of member investor-owned utilities) EPRI Storage and Renewables Task Force (Biomass/Waste Fuel Working Group C hair, 1990-1993) (Working efforts resulted in gaining $85 million DOE funding co mmitment to complete engineering and build first 100 MW biomass power using awh ole tree energya technology) EDUCATION Master of Arts Environmental Studies Bemidji State University. Bemidji, MN Completed extensive graduate studies in organic chemistry, ecology, environmenta l law, politics of pollution and many special topic research papers requiring pe er defense. Degree was designed to prepare students to understand industrial po llution control issues, technologies, law and associated environmental impacts. Served as graduate assistant in library and physics lab. Completed graduate in ternship with regional development commission providing technical support to env ironmental projects. (Note: In 1977, only Ruttgers, Harvard and Bemidji State U niversities had graduate program offerings in Environmental Studies.) Bachelor of Science Environmental Studies Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN