TransAlta Corporation and MidAmerican Transmission are pleased to announce that TAMA Transmission has successfully qualified to participate as a proponent in the Fort McMurray West 500 kV Transmission Project (the Project). Earlier today, the AESO announced its selection of a short-list of companies, identifying that TAMA Transmission will participate in the next stage of its competitive process for the Project. TAMA Transmission, a partnership of TransAlta and MidAmerican, combines TransAlta's strength in power generation and long operating history in Alberta with MidAmerican Transmission's success and experience in transmission development, construction, operations and maintenance.

The Fort McMurray West 500 kV Transmission Project consists of approximately 500 kilometres of transmission line and associated facilities between the Edmonton and Fort McMurray regions and is expected to be in service by 2019. It is expected that following this phase of the competitive process, a winning proponent will be named by the AESO.