Areva Press Release from Grow Idaho Falls

AREVA Chooses Idaho Falls

Areva Inc. announced today it will build a $2 billion uranium enrichment plant near
Idaho Falls. Areva selected the site near the Idaho National Laboratory over potential sites in
five states.

Michael McMurphy, President of Areva Inc. said, “While we had several attractive sites
to choose from, we opted for Idaho Falls, which has strong ties to nuclear energy, and which welcomed AREVA and its proposed enrichment facility to become a new member of its community. We look forward to a productive and long-term partnership that will deliver diversity and strength to the regional economy.”

It will take two to three years to design the plant and receive state and federal
approvals. Construction is expected to take three to five years and involve as many as 1,000 workers. Once operational, the plant is expected to employ up to 300 people.

“Areva has the technology and the experience, and eastern Idaho has the workforce,
the infrastructure, the commitment to advancing nuclear technology and the critical
understanding of this industry. It’s a great match that will result in secure jobs and a stronger
economy,” Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter said. “This highlights the Idaho National Engineering
Laboratory’s importance to our entire state, and it shows what a great investment it was to
provide state funding for the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at the INL. We now have
public and private resources, industry and academics working together to bring about this new
opportunity. I’m grateful to the people of Bonneville County, to the local officials, to Grow Idaho
Falls, and to all those who helped make this announcement possible.”

The Idaho Department of Commerce and Grow Idaho Falls, Inc. worked together to
satisfy the 39 physical and economic criteria in a state to state comparison. Grow Idaho Falls
Inc., the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Partnership for Science &
Technology, the City of Idaho Falls, and the Regional Development Alliance began drafting
legislation to accommodate the gaps in the tax structure.

“We were able to show that bringing this type of large, taxpaying, for-profit business to
Idaho would benefit the whole state, particularly in light of recent declining state revenues,” said
Linda Martin, Executive Director of Grow Idaho Falls Inc. Tim Solomon with the Regional
Development Alliance estimated the overall economic impact to the region would be
approximately $5.1 billion.

“I am very excited that Areva has chosen to do business in our community. What this
tells me is that Idaho must be doing something right to attract a company of this
magnitude. It also tells me if Areva wants to invest in our state, there will be others to follow,
and that would be a very exciting prospect. We could not have done this without the help from
many individuals throughout our community, the state, and our Congressional leadership. We
look forward to a long-lasting partnership with Areva,” said Mayor Jared Fuhriman of Idaho
Falls.

The Idaho Legislature passed two bills during the 2008 session designed to make
Idaho competitive with other states by offering tax incentives. Local government and economic
development officials have been working with Areva for nearly a year in the effort to bring the
plant to eastern Idaho.

The Idaho Falls groups worked with a number of regional and local legislators, including Chairman Dennis Lake (R-Blackfoot), Chairman Brent Hill (R-Rexburg), and Majority Leader Sen. Bart Davis (R-Idaho Falls). Gov. Otter, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Cong. Mike Simpson (R-2 ID) made personal supportive calls during the deliberations, in the US and France. The local delegation gained support from across the state, especially from House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Moyle (R-Star), Rep. Jim Clark (RHayden Lake) and Rep. Dean Mortimer (R-Idaho Falls) on the House floor, and Sen. Curt McKenzie (R-Boise) on the Senate floor.

(Pictured is representative Dean Mortimer, who supported the legislation.)