LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - December 6, 2005 : -- GE's first production LMS100® aeroderivative gas turbine package recently completed assembly at the Houston, Texas manufacturing facility and was shipped to Basin Electric Power Cooperative's site in Groton, S.D. The unit arrived at the site in mid-November, where it will be placed on its foundation before winter.

Site preparation at Basin Electric's Groton Generating Station began on August 1, 2005, with initial site grading and road construction. The bulk package items were disassembled for shipment via barge from the Houston Ship Channel. The unit traveled up the Mississippi River into Minnesota, where it was trucked to the site in Groton.

The foundations for the turbine package were completed before the bulk package assemblies arrived in mid-November. Upon construction completion, the world's most-efficient, simple-cycle gas turbine will be brought online to meet summer and winter peaking generation demands. Completion and start of operation of the Groton Generation Station are scheduled for the summer of 2006.

In addition to the unit that has already shipped, the second production LMS100 core engine passed factory testing and has shipped to Houston for final assembly in the gas turbine package. The third production engine has already begun assembly and is scheduled for shipment to Houston at the end of this year to support customer deliveries in 2006.

Demonstration Unit Exceeds 100 Megawatts at Full Load Operation

The LMS100 demonstration unit, known as the first engine to test (FETT), became the first aeroderivative gas turbine in the world to exceed 100 megawatts at full load operation. This milestone was reached while operating at 92 degrees Fahrenheit (~33 degrees Celsius), proving the machine's ability to meet customer needs to sustain power at very high ambient temperatures.

Successful demonstration of the following capabilities has been achieved during testing of the FETT unit: start sequencing on gas and liquid fuel, achieving 100% start reliability on both fuels, Variable Bleed Valve (VBV) operation during starts, low power operation and load drops, intercooler operation throughout the load range and emission control and combustor operability with water injection on gas fuel.

"The gas turbine and supporting systems continue to perform as expected, while achieving all test objectives," said Rick Stewart, president of GE Energy's aeroderivative division."The remainder of the FETT test program will focus on validating performance (steady state and transient), emissions, noise, load accepts/rejects and off-design operability. Testing is expected to continue through the end of the year."

The LMS100 represents the first time GE has combined components from GE Energy's heavy-duty frame gas turbines and GE Transportation's aeroderivative gas turbines to provide significant improvements in gas turbine efficiency. It is the most extensive collaboration of design and manufacturing in GE's history, with four GE business units and three other companies participating in the development program.

GE Energy's aeroderivative division is a leading supplier of aeroderivative gas turbines, gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and diesel engines for industrial and marine applications. The company provides power-generating equipment to utilities, industries and marine fleets throughout the world. It is also the world's largest and most experienced aeroderivative gas turbine service provider.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2004 revenue of $17.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries.

About GE Transportation

GE Transportation, part of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), operates GE's world-leading Rail and Aircraft Engines businesses. GE is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also manufactures gas turbines, derived from its highly successful jet engine programs, for marine and industrial applications. In addition, GE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its Engine Services operation.

For more information, contact: