CenterPoint Energy closes on purchase of new facility in downtown Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS May 12, 2014 CenterPoint Energy closed Friday on the purchase of a new 100,000 square-foot facility at 505 Nicollet Mall where more than 300 natural gas employees will contribute to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Minneapolis.

The new facility will house employees from two locations, but primarily from leased space at LaSalle Plaza. In addition, CenterPoint Energy and Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association are working together to develop a strategy for a new Visitor Information Center to be located in the retail space.

We chose 505 Nicollet because of its downtown location, which is central to our natural gas operations, said Joe Vortherms, vice president of Gas Operations for CenterPoint Energy in Minnesota. We are looking forward to enhancing our efficiency and productivity at a strategically located facility, and it reinforces our commitment to downtown Minneapolis.

The company will seek Silver Leadership in Environment and Engineering Design (LEED) certification, which is designed to meet strict energy efficiency standards. CenterPoint Energy expects to move to its new location during the first quarter of 2015.

CenterPoint Energy continues to maintain a long-standing focus on energy conservation, the environment and community development. To see what CenterPoint Energy is doing in the community, visit CenterPoint Energy.com/Community.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and energy services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company also owns a 54.7 percent limited partner interest in Enable Midstream Partners, a publicly traded master limited partnership it jointly controls with OGE Energy Corp., which owns, operates and develops natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With more than 8,500 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 140 years. The utility also operates a non-regulated business in Minnesota called Home Service Plus®. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.