NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                            

Contact:  Jim Cooper, Key Accounts & Marketing Mgr., Traverse City Light & Power

               Phone: (231) 932-4560 or E-mail: jcooper@tclp.org

Contact:  Phil Callighan, Sr. Account Executive, Knorr Marketing

   Phone: (231) 947-9707, ext. 207; Mobile: (231) 342-7590

               or E-mail: philc@knorrmarketing.com

Light & Power Board Elects New Leaders

(Traverse City, Michigan) — Linda Johnson was elected Chairman of the Traverse City Light & Power Board of Directors at last Tuesday’s (April 22, 2008) regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. John Welch was elected Vice-Chairman. Each will serve a one-year term. Ed Rice, the new Interim Executive Director of L&P, was elected Secretary of the Board.

            “As a municipally-based utility,” said Johnson, “we will continue our commitment to provide our ratepayers the most affordable, reliable and environmentally sensitive service possible.”
            Johnson previously served as Chairman of the L&P Board from 2005 – 2007 and as Vice-Chairman last year. She first served on the L&P Board from 1992 –1999. Due to term limits, she was off the board from 1999- 2002; then reappointed as an At-Large Director in 2003. Johnson’s experience includes serving as a Traverse City Commissioner for five years, including serving as Mayor of Traverse City in 1993, and serving six years on the Traverse City School Board, including service as president of the school board in 1987. Johnson has also owned her own business, Draperies on Wheels, for 13 years, and is a member of Traverse City Rotary Club. She and her family live at the Port of Old Mission.

            John Welch, the newly elected Vice-Chairman of the L&P Board, served as Chairman of the L&P Board this last year. He is a Wealth Manager with the Financial & Investment Management Group, Ltd. (FIM Group) based in Traverse City. Prior to joining FIM Group in 2005, he was Vice President and Senior Institutional Trust Officer for Fifth-Third Bank Northern Michigan Investment Advisors Division. He also serves on the board of the Northern Michigan Charitable Giving Council. He is a past board member of the Traverse Area District Library and local Salvation Army and graduated from the very first Leadership Grand Traverse in 1986. Welch is also a member of various civic groups, including the Traverse City Rotary Club and the Traverse City Economics Club. He and his family reside in Traverse City.