Exhibit 10.4


  
	

  Natural

  Gas Interstate Pipeline Transportation Agreement


  
	

   


  





 




Overview:  This Natural Gas Interstate Pipeline

Transportation Agreement (“Agreement”), for the interstate transportation of

natural gas on the Northern Natural Gas Pipeline System (NNG), is made and

entered into by and between NorthWestern Services Group, Inc. (“NorthWestern”)

and Great Plains Ethanol, LLC (“Customer”) this 2nd day of Sept., 2002.  This Agreement shall become effective on the

date Customer begins commercial operations (“Plant Start-Up Date”), which is

assumed to be March 2003.  Delivery of

natural gas under this Agreement requires a new Town Border Station (TBS) and

new pipeline facilities between NorthWestern and NNG.  The TBS and new pipeline facilities will be constructed by

NorthWestern.  In addition, the new TBS

and new pipeline facilities from the TBS to the Plant shall be owned and

operated by NorthWestern.  Terms and

conditions related to the service on the TBS and new pipeline facilities are

part of the Natural Gas Distribution Delivery Agreement dated Sept. 2, 2002.




 




1.                                       Pipeline

Transportation Services:




 




	

  a)


  	

  NNG Firm Reservation:


  	

  NorthWestern shall provide

  100% firm transportation capacity to Customer on NNG’s interstate pipeline

  system at 35% of NNG’s maximum TFX reservation rate applicable for the

  month.  Such rate is inclusive of all

  reservation charge surcharges imposed by NNG.  The above rate will be converted to a 100% load factor rate and

  charged on a volumetric basis.


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  b)


  	

  Delivery Quantities:


  	

   


  
				





 




	

  Maximum Daily Quantity*


  	

   


  	

  8,400 MMBtu per day


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  Average Minimum Daily

  Quantity*


  	

   


  	

  3,380 MMBtu per day


  





 




*NorthWestern

and Customer agree that the above stated volumes are estimates.  Plant volumes may change from time to time

and future expansion may occur prior to the end of this contract term.  NorthWestern will maintain a maximum firm

capacity of 4,200 MMBtu per day available at the Great Plains Ethanol site for

Customer’s use throughout the term of this Agreement.  Nonetheless, NorthWestern agrees to offer the same prices as

stated herein, so long as additional significant NorthWestern capital

improvements are not required to enable service under this Agreement.




 




	

  c)


  	

  NNG Firm Commodity:


  	

   


  	

  Per MMBtu equivalent

  charge in NNG’s tariff.


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  d)


  	

  Carlton Surcharge:     Per MMBtu equivalent charge in NNG’s

  tariff.


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  e)


  	

  NNG Fuel Retention:


  	

   


  	

  Gross-up for pipeline fuel

  based on the percentage for mainline fuel in NNG’s tariff.


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  f)


  	

  Receipt/Delivery Points:


  	

   


  	

  Firm Primary Receipt

  points into NNG’s Market Area shall be Ventura or Welcome.  The Primary Delivery Point shall be the

  new interconenct described in Section 1 between NorthWestern and NNG.


  





 




2.                                       Term:      This contract shall be in effect from the

start-up date until 10/31/03.  After the

term of this agreement, if NorthWestern obtains discounted rates for future

firm service from NNG into Northern’s Zone ABC, NorthWestern agrees to provide

like discounted firm service to this facility.





























 




3.                                       Billing and

Payment:    NorthWestern shall use

reasonable efforts to render invoices on or before the 10th day of

each month for all gas delivery commodity and monthly customer charges

applicable to gas deliveries to the Customer in the preceding month.  Customer shall pay NorthWestern on or before

the 25th day of each month for all charges reflected on the invoice

rendered by NorthWestern in the current month.




 




	

  Great

  Plains Ethanol, LLC


  	

   


  	

  NorthWestern

  Energy, a division of


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

  NorthWestern

  Services Group, Inc.


  





 




 




	

  By


  	

  /s/ Darin Ihnen


  	

  By


  	

  /s/ Curt Pohl


  
	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  	

   


  
	

  Title


  	

  President


  	

  Title


  	

  VP Operations


  





 




 




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