TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 16, 2012) -

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Northland Power Inc. ("Northland") (TSX:NPI)(TSX:NPI.PR.A)(TSX:NPI.PR.C)(TSX:NPI.DB.A) announced today that it has completed financing for the first phase of its 130 MW ground-mount program. The six solar projects, totalling 60 MW, are located in various communities in eastern and central Ontario. The financing was provided by Union Bank Canada Branch, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and CIT Financial Ltd, and consists of a $227 million construction credit facility with an 18-year term loan. The total project costs are budgeted at $285 million.

"I am very pleased to make today's announcement, especially given that this is Northland's first group of utility scale solar farms," said John Brace, President and CEO of Northland. "Once completed, these facilities will contribute clean solar power to Ontario's grid. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the strong support we have received throughout the development process, from the Ontario Power Authority, the government of Ontario, and especially, the local municipalities and residents."

Under construction by Miwel Construction Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aecon Group Inc., the projects will sell the electricity under Ontario's renewable energy Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program, and will use Ontario-made equipment and local Ontario labour. The projects are located near Smiths Falls and Belleville in Eastern Ontario, and Burk's Falls near Huntsville. Commercial operations are expected to begin in 2013.

Northland is continuing with the permitting process for its remaining seven projects, totalling 70 MW, which have received power purchase agreements (PPAs) under Ontario's FIT program.

ABOUT NORTHLAND

Northland Power Inc. owns or has a net economic interest in 1,005 MW of operating generating capacity, and 320 MW of generating capacity in construction. Northland is also actively developing 280 MW of wind, solar and run-of-river hydro projects already awarded PPAs, and approximately 2,200 MW of additional power generation opportunities. Northland's assets comprise facilities that produce electricity from "clean" natural gas and "green" renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass. Electricity generation and capacity is primarily sold under long-term contracts with creditworthy customers. Northland's operating thermal power assets are located in the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada, and include the 120 MW Iroquois Falls cogeneration facility, the 110 MW Kingston combined-cycle power facility, the 265 MW Thorold cogeneration facility, the 86 MW Spy Hill peaking facility and an economic interest in two natural-gas- and biomass-fired generation facilities as well as a 19% equity interest in the 230 MW Panda-Brandywine combined-cycle power facility located outside Washington, D.C. Northland's operating renewable power facilities include the 128 MW Jardin d'Eole wind farm and the 100 MW Mont Louis wind farm both located in Quebec, two wind farms totaling 22 MW of installed capacity located in Germany and several rooftop solar power facilities in Ontario. Northland owns the 260 MW North Battleford project, which is currently under construction in Saskatchewan, Canada, and is currently constructing 60 MW of ground-mount solar projects located in various communities in eastern and central Ontario. Northland's cash flows are diversified over five geographically separate regions and regulatory jurisdictions.

Northland's common shares, Series 1 and Series 3 preferred shares and convertible debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, NPI.PR.A, NPI.PR.C and NPI.DB.A, respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements which are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans. Readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "targets," "projects," "forecasts" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." These statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding future EBITDA, cash flows and dividend payments, the construction, completion, attainment of commercial operations, cost and output of development projects, plans for raising capital, and the operations, business, financial condition, priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Northland and its subsidiaries. These statements are based upon certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in developing the forward-looking statements, including the design specifications of development projects, the provisions of contracts to which Northland or a subsidiary is a party, management's current plans, its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Although these forward-looking statements are based upon management's current reasonable expectations and assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Some of the factors that could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, but are not limited to, construction risks, counterparty risks, operational risks, the variability of revenues from generating facilities powered by intermittent renewable resources and the other factors described in the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of Northland's 2011 Annual Report and Annual Information Form, both of which can be found at [ www.sedar.com ] under Northland's profile and on Northland's website [ www.northlandpower.ca ].

Northland's actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur.

The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on assumptions that were considered reasonable on July 16, 2012. Other than as specifically required by law, Northland undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

Contributing Sources

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