North American Coal Corporation

Founded in 1978, The Falkirk Mining Company provides coal products. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The North American Coal Corporation, which provides dragline mining services. Founded in 1913, The North American Coal Corporation also produces lignite coal. It is staffed with engineers and land, environmental, maintenance and operations individuals. The company s clients include American Electric Power, CLECO Power, Great River Energy and San Miguel Electric Cooperative. The North American Coal Corporation operates Freedom Mine, Red Hills Mine, Red River Mine, Sabine Mine and San Miguel Mine operations. It is a part of North American Coal.

BNI Coal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ALLETE (NYSE-ALE) and owns and operates the Center Mine near Center, N.D. BNI Coal's surface mine supplies lignite coal to fuel the nearby Milton R. Young steam electric Generating Station, Units I and II. BNI mines about 4.5 million tons of lignite coal annually, supplying both units of the Young Station. The mining process disturbs and reclaims approximately 210 acres per year. With reserves of 600 million tons, BNI has ample capacity to expand production. In 1930, Harris M. Baukol, his brothers and L.L. Monson formed Baukol-Noonan Lignite, Inc. and Noonan Holding Company. The companies began mining near Noonan, N.D. In 1949, the businesses were assumed by a successor company, Baukol-Noonan, Inc. Operations at the Center mine began in 1970. In 1988, Baukol-Noonan was purchased by Minnesota Power Company currently known as (ALLETE). Baukol-Noonan changed its name to BNI Coal Ltd. and relocated its headquarters to Bismarck, N.D.