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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2009</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Registration
No. 333-______</font></div>
        <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
        <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Washington,
D.C. 20549</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">____________________</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">FORM
S-8</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">____________________</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">ALLETE,
      Inc.</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Exact
      name of registrant as</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">specified
      in its charter)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Minnesota</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(State
      or other jurisdiction of</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">incorporation
      or organization)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">41-0418150</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(I.R.S.
      Employer</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Identification
      No.)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">30
West Superior Street</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(218)
279-5000</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">of
registrant&#8217;s principal executive offices)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">____________________</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Minnesota
Power and Affiliated Companies</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Retirement
Savings and Stock Ownership Plan</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Full
Title of Plan)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">____________________</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">MARK
      A. SCHOBER</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">DEBORAH
      A. AMBERG, Esq.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Senior
      Vice President and</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Chief
      Financial Officer</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Senior
      Vice President, General Counsel</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">and
      Secretary</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">30
      West Superior Street</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">30
      West Superior Street</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="28%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(218)
      279-5000</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="30%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(218)
      279-5000</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
              <td valign="top" width="29%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">DONALD
      W. STELLMAKER</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="31%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ROBERT
      J. REGER, JR., Esq.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="29%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Treasurer</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">30
      West Superior Street</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="31%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Morgan,
      Lewis &amp; Bockius LLP</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">101
      Park Avenue</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="29%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="31%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">New
      York, New York 10178-0060</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="29%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(218)
      279-5000</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="31%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(212)
      309-6000</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="29%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></td>
              <td valign="top" width="31%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Names
and addresses, including zip codes, and telephone numbers, including area codes,
of agents for service)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.&#160;&#160;See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221;
&#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.&#160;&#160;(Check one):</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Large accelerated
file</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Wingdings">x</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Accelerated
filer</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Non-accelerated
filer</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Wingdings">o</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Smaller reporting
company</font>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Wingdings">o</font></font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(Do not
check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">_____________________</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div align="left">
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
              <td valign="bottom" width="25%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Title
      of Securities</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">to
      be Registered</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="17%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount
      to be</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Registered
      (1)(2)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed
      Maximum</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Offering
      Price</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Per
      Share (3)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Proposed
      Maximum</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Aggregate</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Offering
      Price (3)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="bottom" width="15%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1.5pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Amount
      of</font></div>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Registration
      Fee</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="25%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Common
      Stock, without par value</font></div>
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              <td valign="top" width="17%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1.5pt solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3,000,000
      Shares</font></div>
              </td>
              <td valign="top" width="16%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1.5pt solid">
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              </td>
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              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In
      addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
      registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to
      be offered or sold pursuant to the Minnesota Power and Affiliated
      Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
    (Plan).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In
      addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
      registration statement also covers such additional securities as may
      become deliverable as a result of stock splits, stock dividends,
      split-ups, recapitalizations or similar transactions, in accordance with
      the provisions of the Plan.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)</font>&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Estimated solely for purposes of
      calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
      Securities Act of 1933 on the basis of the average of the high and low
      prices of the registrant&#8217;s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange
      composite tape on November 2,
2009</font>.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Minnesota
Power and Affiliated Companies</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Retirement
Savings and Stock Ownership Plan</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Part
II. Information Required in the Registration Statement</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
3.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Incorporation
of Documents by Reference.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
following documents filed by ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE) and the Minnesota Power and
Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (Plan) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 are incorporated herein by reference.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE&#8217;s
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as
      amended;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE&#8217;s
      Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31,
      2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30,
2009;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE&#8217;s
      Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February&#160;17, 2009,
      March&#160;5, 2009, April&#160;7, 2009, May&#160;13, 2009, as amended,
      July&#160;15, 2009, July&#160;27, 2009 , October 23, 2009, November 2,
      2009 and November 2, 2009; and</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(4)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
      Plan&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31,
      2008.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">All
documents subsequently filed by ALLETE or the Plan pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have
been sold or which deregisters all the securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from
the respective dates of filing thereof.&#160;&#160;Any statement contained in
this registration statement, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this registration statement, to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration
statement</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
4.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Description
of Securities.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Description
of Common Stock</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">General</font>.&#160;&#160;The
following statements describing ALLETE&#8217;s common stock are not intended to be a
complete description.&#160;&#160;For additional information, please see ALLETE&#8217;s
Articles of Incorporation and bylaws.&#160;&#160;Each of these documents has
been previously filed with the SEC and they are exhibits to this registration
statement filed with the SEC.&#160;&#160;Reference is also made to the laws of
the State of Minnesota.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE
has the following capital stock authorized by its Articles of Incorporation:
80,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and 3,616,000 shares of
preferred stock.&#160;&#160;As of November 2, 2009, 34,931,135 shares of common
stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued
and outstanding.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Dividend
Rights</font>.&#160;&#160;ALLETE&#8217;s common stock is entitled to dividends only
after ALLETE has provided for dividends and any sinking fund requirements on any
issued and outstanding preferred stock.&#160;&#160;ALLETE&#8217;s Articles of
Incorporation contain provisions which would restrict net income available for
the payment of cash dividends on outstanding common stock in the event that
shares of ALLETE&#8217;s preferred stock were outstanding and certain common stock
equity capitalization ratios were not met.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Voting Rights (Non-Cumulative
Voting)</font>.&#160;&#160;Holders of ALLETE&#8217;s common stock are entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders.&#160;&#160;Each
share of ALLETE&#8217;s common stock, as well as each share of any of ALLETE&#8217;s issued
and outstanding preferred stock, is entitled to one vote.&#160;&#160;Since the
holders of these shares do not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of
more than 50 percent of the shares voting can elect all directors.&#160;&#160;If
that happens, the holders of the remaining shares voting (less than 50 percent)
cannot elect any directors.&#160;&#160;In addition, whenever dividends on any of
ALLETE&#8217;s preferred stock are in default in the amount of four full quarterly
payments or more, and until all the dividends in default are paid, the holders
of ALLETE&#8217;s preferred stock are entitled, as one class, to elect a majority of
the directors.&#160;&#160;ALLETE&#8217;s common stock, as one class, would then elect
the minority.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
Articles of Incorporation include detailed procedures and other provisions
relating to these rights and their termination, including:</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">quorums;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">terms
      of directors elected;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">vacancies;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">class
      voting;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" face="Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">meetings;
      and</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
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<tr valign="top">
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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Articles of Incorporation contain provisions that make it difficult to obtain
control of ALLETE through transactions not having the approval of the Board of
Directors.&#160;&#160;These provisions include:</font></div>
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<tr valign="top">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">a
      provision requiring the affirmative vote of 75 percent of the outstanding
      shares of all classes of ALLETE&#8217;s capital stock, present and entitled to
      vote, in order to authorize certain mergers or consolidations, or sales or
      leases of a significant amount of assets, of ALLETE, and other significant
      transactions that may have an effect on the control of
      ALLETE.&#160;&#160;Any of those transactions are required to meet certain
      &#8220;fair price&#8221; and procedural requirements.&#160;&#160;Neither a 75 percent
      shareholder vote nor a &#8220;fair price&#8221; is required for any of those
      transactions that have been approved by a majority of the &#8220;Disinterested
      Directors,&#8221; as that term is defined in the Articles of
      Incorporation;</font></div>
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<tr valign="top">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">a
      provision permitting a majority of the Disinterested Directors to
      determine whether the above requirements have been satisfied;
      and</font></div>
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<tr valign="top">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">a
      provision providing that some parts of the Articles of Incorporation
      cannot be altered unless approved by 75 percent of the outstanding shares
      of all classes of ALLETE&#8217;s capital stock, present and entitled to vote,
      unless the alteration is recommended to the shareholders by a majority of
      the Disinterested Directors.&#160;&#160;The parts of the Articles of
      Incorporation that cannot be altered except as stated above include some
      parts relating to:</font></div>
              </td>
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<tr valign="top">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">mergers
      or consolidations, or sales or leases of a significant amount of assets,
      of ALLETE, and other significant transactions that may have an effect on
      the control of ALLETE; and</font></div>
              </td>
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      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">the
      number, election, terms of office and removal of directors of ALLETE and
      the way in which vacancies on the Board of Directors are
      filled.</font></div>
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            </tr></table>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Liquidation
Rights</font>.&#160;&#160;After ALLETE has satisfied creditors and the
preferential liquidation rights of any of its outstanding preferred stock, the
holders of its common stock are entitled to share ratably in the distribution of
all remaining assets.</font></div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Miscellaneous</font>.&#160;&#160;Holders
of ALLETE&#8217;s common stock have no preemptive or conversion
rights.&#160;&#160;ALLETE&#8217;s common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.&#160;&#160;The transfer agents and registrars for ALLETE&#8217;s common
stock are Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and ALLETE.</font></div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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        <div id="HDR">
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</font></div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
5.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
consolidated financial statements and management&#8217;s assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in
Management&#8217;s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated
in this registration statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A
for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
financial statements incorporated in this registration statement by reference to
the Plan&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Reilly, Penner &amp; Benton
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
6.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Section
302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act generally provides for the
indemnification of directors, officers or employees of a corporation made or
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present
official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties and fines
(including attorneys&#8217; fees and disbursements) where such person, among other
things, has not been indemnified by another organization, acted in good faith,
received no improper personal benefit and with respect to any criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Article
IX of the Articles of Incorporation of ALLETE contains the following
provision:</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#8220;No
director of this Corporation shall be personally liable to this Corporation or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty by that
director as a director; provided, however, that this Article IX shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director:&#160;&#160;(a) for any breach of
the director&#8217;s duty of loyalty to this Corporation or its stockholders; (b) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law; (c) under Minnesota Statutes Section 302A.559 or
80A.23; (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit; or (e) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date
when this Article IX becomes effective.&#160;&#160;If, after the stockholders
approve this provision, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota
Statutes Chapter 302A, is amended to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of this Corporation shall be deemed eliminated or limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as so
amended.&#160;&#160;No amendment to or repeal of this Article IX shall apply to
or have any affect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of this
Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to that amendment or repeal.&#8221;</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Section
13 of the Bylaws of ALLETE contains the following provisions relative to
indemnification of directors and officers:</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#8220;The
Corporation shall reimburse or indemnify each present and future Director and
officer of the Corporation (and his or her heirs, executors and administrators)
for or against all expenses reasonably incurred by such Director or officer in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which such
Director or officer may be involved by reason of being or having been a Director
or officer of the Corporation.&#160;&#160;Such indemnification for reasonable
expenses is to be to the fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business
Corporation Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.&#160;&#160;By affirmative vote
of the Board of Directors or with written approval of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, such indemnification may be extended to include agents and
employees who are not Directors or officers of the Corporation, but who would
otherwise be indemnified for acts and omissions under Chapter 302A of the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act, if such agent or employee were an officer of
the Corporation.&#8221;</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#8220;Reasonable
expenses may include reimbursement of attorneys&#8217; fees and disbursements,
including those incurred by a person in connection with an appearance as a
witness.&#8221;</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#8220;Upon
written request to the Corporation and approval by the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, an agent or employee for whom indemnification has been
extended, or an officer or Director may receive an advance for reasonable
expenses if such agent, employee, officer or Director is made or threatened to
be made a party to a proceeding involving a matter for which indemnification is
believed to be available under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.&#8221;</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#8220;The
foregoing rights shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any Director or
officer may otherwise be entitled and shall be available whether or not the
Director or officer continues to be a Director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses and liabilities.&#8221;</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE
has insurance covering its expenditures which might arise in connection with the
lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for their liabilities and
expenses, and insuring officers and directors of ALLETE against certain other
liabilities and expenses.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
8.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Number&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Description
of Exhibit</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*4(a)1</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Articles
      of Incorporation, amended and restated as of May 8, 2001 (filed as Exhibit
      3(b) to the March&#160;31, 2001 Form 10-Q, File No.
    1-3548).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*4(a)2</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Amendment
      to Articles of Incorporation, effective 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
      September&#160;20, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the September 21, 2004 Form
      8-K, File No. 1-3548).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*4(a)3</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Amendment
      to Certificate of Assumed Name, filed with the Minnesota Secretary of
      State on May&#160;8, 2001 (filed as Exhibit&#160;3(a) to the
      March&#160;31, 2001 Form 10-Q, File No. 1-3548).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*4(a)4</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Amendment
      to the Articles of Incorporation, dated as of May 12, 2009 (filed as
      Exhibit 3 to the June 30, 2009 Form 10-Q, File No.
  1-3548).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*4(b)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Bylaws,
      as amended effective August 24, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the August 25,
      2004 Form 8-K, File No. 1-3548.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">4(c)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Minnesota
      Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
      (Amendment and Restatement Effective January 1, 2009).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">5(a)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq., Senior
      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
ALLETE.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">5(b)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Morgan, Lewis &amp; Bockius
      LLP.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(a)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers
      LLP.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(b)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Reilly, Penner &amp;
      Benton LLP..</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(c)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
      of Deborah A. Amberg (included in opinion, attached hereto as Exhibit
      5(a)).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(d)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
      of Morgan, Lewis &amp; Bockius LLP (included in opinion, attached hereto
      as Exhibit 5(b)).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">24</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="2%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">-</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="71%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Power
      of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
      statement).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt"></font><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">*
Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
      </div><br>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">Undertaking</font>. ALLETE will
submit or has submitted the Plan and any amendment thereto to the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) in a timely manner and has made or will make all changes
required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan under Section 401 of the
Internal Revenue Code.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item
9.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Undertakings.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">a.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The
      undersigned registrant hereby
undertakes:</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(1)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To
      file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
      post-effective amendment to this registration
  statement</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(i)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">to
      include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
      of 1933;</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(ii)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">to
      reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
      date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
      fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
      statement; and</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 54pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(iii)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">to
      include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
      not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
      change to such information in the registration
  statement,</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="FONT-STYLE: italic; DISPLAY: inline">provided, however</font>, that
subsections (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included
in a post-effective amendment by those subsections is contained in reports filed
with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(2)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That,
      for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
      1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
      registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
      bona fide offering thereof.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(3)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To
      remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
      securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td align="right" style="WIDTH: 36pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(4)&#160;&#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">That,
      for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
      1933, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section
      13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
      applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s annual report
      pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
      incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
      be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
      and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
      initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">b.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
      1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
      the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 9 of this
      registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that
      in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
      expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
      unenforceable.&#160;&#160;In the event a claim for indemnification against
      such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
      incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
      registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
      asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
      with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
      opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
      precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
      whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
      in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
      adjudication of such issue.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
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person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes any agent for service
named in this registration statement to execute in the name of each such person,
and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and
appoints any such agent for service as attorney-in-fact to sign in each such
person&#8217;s behalf individually and in each capacity stated below and file any such
amendments to this registration statement and the registrant hereby also
appoints each such agent for service as its attorney-in-fact with like authority
to sign and file any such amendments in its name and behalf.</font></div>
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the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Duluth, State of Minnesota on the 4th day of November, 2009.</font></div>
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Inc.</font></div>
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Shippar</font></div>
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to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.</font></div>
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<tr>
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</font></div>
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</font></div>
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<tr>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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            </tr><tr>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              <td valign="top" width="25%">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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      4, 2009</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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      4, 2009</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr><tr>
              <td valign="top" width="34%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
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                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block">&#160;</div>
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            </tr></table>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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</font></div>
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hereby appoints any agent for service named in this registration statement, and
each of them severally, as its attorney-in-fact to sign in its name and behalf
and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to this registration
statement.</font></div>
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requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Employee Benefit Plans Committee
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Duluth and the State of
Minnesota, on the 4th day of November, 2009.</font></div>
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Committee</font></div><br>
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        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
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        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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Index</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
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              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">4(c)&#160;&#160;&#160;
      </font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Minnesota
      Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
      (Amendment and Restatement Effective January 1,
  2009).</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 22px">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
      &#160;</font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 61px">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">5(a)&#160;&#160;&#160;
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              </td>
              <td width="1154">
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Opinion
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      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
  ALLETE.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
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              </td>
              <td>
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      LLP.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(a)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
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      LLP.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">23(b)</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Reilly, Penner &amp;
      Benton LLP.</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr></table>
      </div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
<tr valign="top">
              <td style="WIDTH: 18pt">
                <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">&#160;
      </font></div>
              </td>
              <td style="WIDTH: 45pt">
                <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">24</font></div>
              </td>
              <td>
                <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Power
      of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
      statement).</font></div>
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</font></div>
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</font></div>
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5(a)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">[Letterhead
of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.]</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">November
4, 2009</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE,
Inc.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">30 West
Superior Street</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Ladies
and Gentlemen:</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Reference
is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;)
to be filed by ALLETE, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), on or about the date hereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (&#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), for the registration of 3,000,000 shares
of the Company&#8217;s common stock, without par value (&#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), in connection
with the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan (&#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;This opinion is given with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to the extent that they are newly-issued.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In
connection therewith, I have reviewed such documents and records as I have
deemed necessary to enable me to express an opinion on the matters covered
hereby.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Based
upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that when the authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered as contemplated by and for the
consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the Plan, such shares of
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For
purposes of the opinions set forth above, I have assumed that (a) a Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission order authorizing the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock shall have been issued and shall remain in full force and effect at
the time the shares of Common Stock are issued and that the Company complies
with the terms of such order and (b) the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors, or a duly
authorized committee thereof, shall have taken action to approve and authorize
the issuance and sale of shares of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan and such shares of Common Stock shall be issued and
delivered as provided therein.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I am a
member of the Minnesota Bar and do not hold myself out as an expert on the laws
of any other jurisdiction. As to all matters of Minnesota law, Morgan, Lewis
&amp; Bockius LLP is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same
extent as if this opinion had been addressed to them.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.&#160;&#160;In giving the foregoing consent, I do not thereby admit
that I come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sincerely</font>,</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">/s/ <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Deborah</font> A. Amberg,
Esq.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Deborah<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> A. Amberg</font></font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
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        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><a name="Date">Exhibit 5(b)</a></font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">[Letterhead
of Morgan, Lewis &amp; Bockius LLP]</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">November
4, 2009</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">ALLETE,
Inc.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">30 West
Superior Street</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Ladies
and Gentlemen:</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Reference
is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;)
to be filed by ALLETE, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), on or about the date hereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (&#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), for the registration of 3,000,000 shares
of the Company&#8217;s common stock, without par value (&#8220;Common Stock&#8221;), in connection
with the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan (&#8220;Plan&#8221;).&#160;&#160;This opinion is given with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to the extent that they are newly-issued.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In
connection therewith, we have reviewed such documents and records as we have
deemed necessary to enable us to express an opinion on the matters covered
hereby.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Based
upon the foregoing, we am of the opinion that when the authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered as contemplated by and for the
consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the Plan, such shares of
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For
purposes of the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that (a) a Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission order authorizing the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock shall have been issued and shall remain in full force and effect at
the time the shares of Common Stock are issued and that the Company complies
with the terms of such order and (b) the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors, or a duly
authorized committee thereof, shall have taken action to approve and authorize
the issuance and sale of shares of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan and such shares of Common Stock shall be issued and
delivered as provided therein.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This
opinion is limited to the laws of the States of Minnesota and New York and the
federal laws of the United States insofar as they bear on the matters covered
hereby.&#160;&#160;As to all matters of Minnesota law, we have relied, with your
consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith rendered to you by Deborah A.
Amberg, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company.&#160;&#160;As to all matters of New York law, Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.,
is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same extent as if this
opinion had been addressed to her.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.&#160;&#160;In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Very
truly yours,</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">/s/
Morgan, Lewis &amp; Bockius LLP</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 252pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">MORGAN,
LEWIS &amp; BOCKIUS LLP</font></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
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        <div id="HDR">
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit
23(a)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We hereby
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 of our report dated February 13, 2009, except for the &#8220;ATC Summarized
Financial Data&#8221; section of Note 5, as to which the date is February 26, 2009,
relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule
and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which
appears in ALLETE, Inc.&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2008.&#160;&#160;We also consent to the references to us under the
heading &#8220;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel&#8221; in such Registration
Statement.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="FONT-VARIANT: small-caps; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">/s/
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Minneapolis,
Minnesota</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">November
4, 2009</font></div><br>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
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          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
          <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; WIDTH: 100%">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">&#160;
</font></div>
        </div>
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      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit
23(b)</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 of our report dated June 12, 2009, with respect to the statements of net
assets available for benefits of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007, the related statements of changes in net assets available for
benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the related supplemental
schedules as of December 31, 2008, which report appears in the December 31,
2008, annual report on Form 11-K of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan.&#160;&#160;We also consent to the
references to us under the heading &#8220;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel&#8221; in
such Registration Statement.</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">/s/
Reilly, Penner &amp; Benton LLP</font></div>
      <div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; DISPLAY: block"><br></div>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ALLETE INC", "cik": "0000066756", "assigned-sic": "4931", "irs-number": "410418150", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-162890", "film-number": "091158786"}, "business-address": {"street1": "30 W SUPERIOR ST", "city": "DULUTH", "state": "MN", "zip": "55802-2093", "phone": "2182795000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "30 W SUPERIOR STREET", "city": "DULUTH", "state": "MN", "zip": "55802-2093"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "ALLETE", "date-changed": "20000901"}, {"former-conformed-name": "MINNESOTA POWER INC", "date-changed": "19980603"}, {"former-conformed-name": "MINNESOTA POWER & LIGHT CO", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
rsopregistration.htm
As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2009
Registration
No. 333-______
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
____________________
FORM
S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
____________________
ALLETE,
      Inc.
(Exact
      name of registrant as
specified
      in its charter)
Minnesota
(State
      or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
      or organization)
41-0418150
(I.R.S.
      Employer
Identification
      No.)
30
West Superior Street
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
(218)
279-5000
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of
registrant's principal executive offices)
____________________
Minnesota
Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement
Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
(Full
Title of Plan)
____________________
MARK
      A. SCHOBER
DEBORAH
      A. AMBERG, Esq.
Senior
      Vice President and
Chief
      Financial Officer
Senior
      Vice President, General Counsel
and
      Secretary
30
      West Superior Street
30
      West Superior Street
Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093
Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093
(218)
      279-5000
(218)
      279-5000
DONALD
      W. STELLMAKER
ROBERT
      J. REGER, JR., Esq.
Treasurer
30
      West Superior Street
Morgan,
      Lewis & Bockius LLP
101
      Park Avenue
Duluth,
      Minnesota 55802-2093
New
      York, New York 10178-0060
(218)
      279-5000
(212)
      309-6000
(Names
and addresses, including zip codes, and telephone numbers, including area codes,
of agents for service)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer,"
"accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  (Check one):
Large accelerated
file
x
Accelerated
filer
o
Non-accelerated
filer
o
Smaller reporting
company
o
(Do not
check if a smaller reporting company)
_____________________
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
      of Securities
to
      be Registered
Amount
      to be
Registered
      (1)(2)
Proposed
      Maximum
Offering
      Price
Per
      Share (3)
Proposed
      Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
      Price (3)
Amount
      of
Registration
      Fee
Common
      Stock, without par value
3,000,000
      Shares
$33.46
$100,380,000
$5,602
(1)
In
      addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
      registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of interests to
      be offered or sold pursuant to the Minnesota Power and Affiliated
      Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
    (Plan).
(2)
In
      addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, this
      registration statement also covers such additional securities as may
      become deliverable as a result of stock splits, stock dividends,
      split-ups, recapitalizations or similar transactions, in accordance with
      the provisions of the Plan.
(3)
Estimated solely for purposes of
      calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
      Securities Act of 1933 on the basis of the average of the high and low
      prices of the registrant's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange
      composite tape on November 2,
2009
.
Minnesota
Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement
Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
Part
II. Information Required in the Registration Statement
Item
3.                      Incorporation
of Documents by Reference.
The
following documents filed by ALLETE, Inc. (ALLETE) and the Minnesota Power and
Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan (Plan) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 are incorporated herein by reference.
(1)
ALLETE's
      Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, as
      amended;
(2)
ALLETE's
      Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31,
      2009, June 30, 2009 and September 30,
2009;
(3)
ALLETE's
      Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009,
      March 5, 2009, April 7, 2009, May 13, 2009, as amended,
      July 15, 2009, July 27, 2009 , October 23, 2009, November 2,
      2009 and November 2, 2009; and
(4)
The
      Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31,
      2008.
All
documents subsequently filed by ALLETE or the Plan pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing
of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have
been sold or which deregisters all the securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from
the respective dates of filing thereof.  Any statement contained in
this registration statement, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this registration statement, to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration
statement
Item
4.                      Description
of Securities.
Description
of Common Stock
General
.  The
following statements describing ALLETE's common stock are not intended to be a
complete description.  For additional information, please see ALLETE's
Articles of Incorporation and bylaws.  Each of these documents has
been previously filed with the SEC and they are exhibits to this registration
statement filed with the SEC.  Reference is also made to the laws of
the State of Minnesota.
ALLETE
has the following capital stock authorized by its Articles of Incorporation:
80,000,000 shares of common stock, without par value, and 3,616,000 shares of
preferred stock.  As of November 2, 2009, 34,931,135 shares of common
stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued
and outstanding.
Dividend
Rights
.  ALLETE's common stock is entitled to dividends only
after ALLETE has provided for dividends and any sinking fund requirements on any
issued and outstanding preferred stock.  ALLETE's Articles of
Incorporation contain provisions which would restrict net income available for
the payment of cash dividends on outstanding common stock in the event that
shares of ALLETE's preferred stock were outstanding and certain common stock
equity capitalization ratios were not met.
Voting Rights (Non-Cumulative
Voting)
.  Holders of ALLETE's common stock are entitled to
receive notice of and to vote at any meeting of shareholders.  Each
share of ALLETE's common stock, as well as each share of any of ALLETE's issued
and outstanding preferred stock, is entitled to one vote.  Since the
holders of these shares do not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of
more than 50 percent of the shares voting can elect all directors.  If
that happens, the holders of the remaining shares voting (less than 50 percent)
cannot elect any directors.  In addition, whenever dividends on any of
ALLETE's preferred stock are in default in the amount of four full quarterly
payments or more, and until all the dividends in default are paid, the holders
of ALLETE's preferred stock are entitled, as one class, to elect a majority of
the directors.  ALLETE's common stock, as one class, would then elect
the minority.
The
Articles of Incorporation include detailed procedures and other provisions
relating to these rights and their termination, including:
·
quorums;
·
terms
      of directors elected;
·
vacancies;
·
class
      voting;
·
meetings;
      and
·
adjournments.
The
Articles of Incorporation contain provisions that make it difficult to obtain
control of ALLETE through transactions not having the approval of the Board of
Directors.  These provisions include:
·
a
      provision requiring the affirmative vote of 75 percent of the outstanding
      shares of all classes of ALLETE's capital stock, present and entitled to
      vote, in order to authorize certain mergers or consolidations, or sales or
      leases of a significant amount of assets, of ALLETE, and other significant
      transactions that may have an effect on the control of
      ALLETE.  Any of those transactions are required to meet certain
      "fair price" and procedural requirements.  Neither a 75 percent
      shareholder vote nor a "fair price" is required for any of those
      transactions that have been approved by a majority of the "Disinterested
      Directors," as that term is defined in the Articles of
      Incorporation;
·
a
      provision permitting a majority of the Disinterested Directors to
      determine whether the above requirements have been satisfied;
      and
·
a
      provision providing that some parts of the Articles of Incorporation
      cannot be altered unless approved by 75 percent of the outstanding shares
      of all classes of ALLETE's capital stock, present and entitled to vote,
      unless the alteration is recommended to the shareholders by a majority of
      the Disinterested Directors.  The parts of the Articles of
      Incorporation that cannot be altered except as stated above include some
      parts relating to:
-
mergers
      or consolidations, or sales or leases of a significant amount of assets,
      of ALLETE, and other significant transactions that may have an effect on
      the control of ALLETE; and
-
the
      number, election, terms of office and removal of directors of ALLETE and
      the way in which vacancies on the Board of Directors are
      filled.
Liquidation
Rights
.  After ALLETE has satisfied creditors and the
preferential liquidation rights of any of its outstanding preferred stock, the
holders of its common stock are entitled to share ratably in the distribution of
all remaining assets.
Miscellaneous
.  Holders
of ALLETE's common stock have no preemptive or conversion
rights.  ALLETE's common stock is listed on the New York Stock
Exchange.  The transfer agents and registrars for ALLETE's common
stock are Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and ALLETE.
Item
5.                      Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.
The
consolidated financial statements and management's assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in
Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated
in this registration statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A
for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
The
financial statements incorporated in this registration statement by reference to
the Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Reilly, Penner & Benton
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Item
6.                      Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
Section
302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act generally provides for the
indemnification of directors, officers or employees of a corporation made or
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present
official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties and fines
(including attorneys' fees and disbursements) where such person, among other
things, has not been indemnified by another organization, acted in good faith,
received no improper personal benefit and with respect to any criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.
Article
IX of the Articles of Incorporation of ALLETE contains the following
provision:
"No
director of this Corporation shall be personally liable to this Corporation or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty by that
director as a director; provided, however, that this Article IX shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director:  (a) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to this Corporation or its stockholders; (b) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law; (c) under Minnesota Statutes Section 302A.559 or
80A.23; (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit; or (e) for any act or omission occurring prior to the date
when this Article IX becomes effective.  If, after the stockholders
approve this provision, the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota
Statutes Chapter 302A, is amended to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of this Corporation shall be deemed eliminated or limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as so
amended.  No amendment to or repeal of this Article IX shall apply to
or have any affect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of this
Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to that amendment or repeal."
Section
13 of the Bylaws of ALLETE contains the following provisions relative to
indemnification of directors and officers:
"The
Corporation shall reimburse or indemnify each present and future Director and
officer of the Corporation (and his or her heirs, executors and administrators)
for or against all expenses reasonably incurred by such Director or officer in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which such
Director or officer may be involved by reason of being or having been a Director
or officer of the Corporation.  Such indemnification for reasonable
expenses is to be to the fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business
Corporation Act, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A.  By affirmative vote
of the Board of Directors or with written approval of the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, such indemnification may be extended to include agents and
employees who are not Directors or officers of the Corporation, but who would
otherwise be indemnified for acts and omissions under Chapter 302A of the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act, if such agent or employee were an officer of
the Corporation."
"Reasonable
expenses may include reimbursement of attorneys' fees and disbursements,
including those incurred by a person in connection with an appearance as a
witness."
"Upon
written request to the Corporation and approval by the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, an agent or employee for whom indemnification has been
extended, or an officer or Director may receive an advance for reasonable
expenses if such agent, employee, officer or Director is made or threatened to
be made a party to a proceeding involving a matter for which indemnification is
believed to be available under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 302A."
"The
foregoing rights shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any Director or
officer may otherwise be entitled and shall be available whether or not the
Director or officer continues to be a Director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses and liabilities."
ALLETE
has insurance covering its expenditures which might arise in connection with the
lawful indemnification of its directors and officers for their liabilities and
expenses, and insuring officers and directors of ALLETE against certain other
liabilities and expenses.
Item
8.                      Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number                  Description
of Exhibit
*4(a)1
-
Articles
      of Incorporation, amended and restated as of May 8, 2001 (filed as Exhibit
      3(b) to the March 31, 2001 Form 10-Q, File No.
    1-3548).
*4(a)2
-
Amendment
      to Articles of Incorporation, effective 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
      September 20, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the September 21, 2004 Form
      8-K, File No. 1-3548).
*4(a)3
-
Amendment
      to Certificate of Assumed Name, filed with the Minnesota Secretary of
      State on May 8, 2001 (filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the
      March 31, 2001 Form 10-Q, File No. 1-3548).
*4(a)4
-
Amendment
      to the Articles of Incorporation, dated as of May 12, 2009 (filed as
      Exhibit 3 to the June 30, 2009 Form 10-Q, File No.
  1-3548).
*4(b)
-
Bylaws,
      as amended effective August 24, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 3 to the August 25,
      2004 Form 8-K, File No. 1-3548.
4(c)
-
Minnesota
      Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
      (Amendment and Restatement Effective January 1, 2009).
5(a)
-
Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq., Senior
      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
ALLETE.
5(b)
-
Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
      LLP.
23(a)
-
Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers
      LLP.
23(b)
-
Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Reilly, Penner &
      Benton LLP..
23(c)
-
Consent
      of Deborah A. Amberg (included in opinion, attached hereto as Exhibit
      5(a)).
23(d)
-
Consent
      of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in opinion, attached hereto
      as Exhibit 5(b)).
24
-
Power
      of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
      statement).
*
Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
Undertaking
. ALLETE will
submit or has submitted the Plan and any amendment thereto to the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) in a timely manner and has made or will make all changes
required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan under Section 401 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Item
9.                      Undertakings.
a.
The
      undersigned registrant hereby
undertakes:
(1)
To
      file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
      post-effective amendment to this registration
  statement
(i)
to
      include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
      of 1933;
(ii)
to
      reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
      date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
      amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
      fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
      statement; and
(iii)
to
      include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution
      not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
      change to such information in the registration
  statement,
provided, however
, that
subsections (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information required to be included
in a post-effective amendment by those subsections is contained in reports filed
with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.
(2)
That,
      for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
      1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
      registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
      offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
      bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To
      remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
      securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
      offering.
(4)
That,
      for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
      1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
      13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
      applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
      pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is
      incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
      be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
      and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
      initial bona fide offering thereof.
b.
Insofar
      as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
      1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
      the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 9 of this
      registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that
      in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
      expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
      unenforceable.  In the event a claim for indemnification against
      such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
      incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
      registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
      asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
      with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
      opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
      precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
      whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
      in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
      adjudication of such issue.
Power
of Attorney
Each
person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes any agent for service
named in this registration statement to execute in the name of each such person,
and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and
appoints any such agent for service as attorney-in-fact to sign in each such
person's behalf individually and in each capacity stated below and file any such
amendments to this registration statement and the registrant hereby also
appoints each such agent for service as its attorney-in-fact with like authority
to sign and file any such amendments in its name and behalf.
Signatures
The Registrant.
Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Duluth, State of Minnesota on the 4th day of November, 2009.
ALLETE,
Inc.
(Registrant)
By
/s/ Donald J.
Shippar
Donald J.
Shippar
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Donald J. Shippar
Donald
      J. Shippar
Chairman
      and Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
      Executive Officer)
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Mark A. Schober
Mark
      A. Schober
Senior
      Vice President and
Chief
      Financial Officer
(Principal
      Financial Officer)
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Steven Q. DeVinck
Steven
      Q. DeVinck
Vice
      President and Controller
(Principal
      Accounting Officer)
November
      4, 2009
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Kathleen A. Brekken
Kathleen
      A. Brekken
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Kathryn W. Dindo
Kathryn
      W. Dindo
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Heidi J. Eddins
Heidi
      J. Eddins
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Sidney W. Emery, Jr.
Sidney
      W. Emery, Jr.
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ James S. Haines, Jr.
James
      S. Haines, Jr.
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Alan R. Hodnik
Alan
      R. Hodnik
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ James J. Hoolihan
James
      J. Hoolihan
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Madeleine W. Ludlow
Madeleine
      W. Ludlow
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ George L. Mayer
George
      L. Mayer
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Douglas C. Neve
Douglas
      C. Neve
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Jack I.
      Rajala
Jack
      I. Rajala
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Leonard C. Rodman
Leonard
      C. Rodman
Director
November
      4, 2009
/s/ Bruce W. Stender
Bruce
      W. Stender
Director
November
      4, 2009
Power
of Attorney
The Plan
hereby appoints any agent for service named in this registration statement, and
each of them severally, as its attorney-in-fact to sign in its name and behalf
and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any and all amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to this registration
statement.
Signatures
The Plan.
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Employee Benefit Plans Committee
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Duluth and the State of
Minnesota, on the 4th day of November, 2009.
Minnesota Power and Affiliated
Companies
Retirement Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan
By
/s/ Donald J.
Shippar
Donald J. Shippar
Employee Benefit Plans
Committee
Exhibit
Index
4(c)
Minnesota
      Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan
      (Amendment and Restatement Effective January 1,
  2009).
5(a)
Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq., Senior
      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
  ALLETE.
5(b)
Opinion
      and Consent, dated November 4, 2009, of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
      LLP.
23(a)
Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers
      LLP.
23(b)
Consent
      of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of Reilly, Penner &
      Benton LLP.
24
Power
      of Attorney (included on the signature pages of this registration
      statement).
Exhibit
5(a)
[Letterhead
of Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.]
November
4, 2009
ALLETE,
Inc.
30 West
Superior Street
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
to be filed by ALLETE, Inc. (the "Company"), on or about the date hereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), for the registration of 3,000,000 shares
of the Company's common stock, without par value ("Common Stock"), in connection
with the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan ("Plan").  This opinion is given with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to the extent that they are newly-issued.
In
connection therewith, I have reviewed such documents and records as I have
deemed necessary to enable me to express an opinion on the matters covered
hereby.
Based
upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that when the authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered as contemplated by and for the
consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the Plan, such shares of
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
For
purposes of the opinions set forth above, I have assumed that (a) a Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission order authorizing the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock shall have been issued and shall remain in full force and effect at
the time the shares of Common Stock are issued and that the Company complies
with the terms of such order and (b) the Company's Board of Directors, or a duly
authorized committee thereof, shall have taken action to approve and authorize
the issuance and sale of shares of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan and such shares of Common Stock shall be issued and
delivered as provided therein.
I am a
member of the Minnesota Bar and do not hold myself out as an expert on the laws
of any other jurisdiction. As to all matters of Minnesota law, Morgan, Lewis
& Bockius LLP is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same
extent as if this opinion had been addressed to them.
I hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving the foregoing consent, I do not thereby admit
that I come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
Sincerely
,
/s/
Deborah
A. Amberg,
Esq.
Deborah
A. Amberg
Exhibit 5(b)
[Letterhead
of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]
November
4, 2009
ALLETE,
Inc.
30 West
Superior Street
Duluth,
Minnesota 55802-2093
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
to be filed by ALLETE, Inc. (the "Company"), on or about the date hereof with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), for the registration of 3,000,000 shares
of the Company's common stock, without par value ("Common Stock"), in connection
with the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies Retirement Savings and Stock
Ownership Plan ("Plan").  This opinion is given with respect to the
shares of Common Stock to the extent that they are newly-issued.
In
connection therewith, we have reviewed such documents and records as we have
deemed necessary to enable us to express an opinion on the matters covered
hereby.
Based
upon the foregoing, we am of the opinion that when the authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered as contemplated by and for the
consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the Plan, such shares of
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
For
purposes of the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that (a) a Minnesota
Public Utilities Commission order authorizing the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock shall have been issued and shall remain in full force and effect at
the time the shares of Common Stock are issued and that the Company complies
with the terms of such order and (b) the Company's Board of Directors, or a duly
authorized committee thereof, shall have taken action to approve and authorize
the issuance and sale of shares of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan and such shares of Common Stock shall be issued and
delivered as provided therein.
This
opinion is limited to the laws of the States of Minnesota and New York and the
federal laws of the United States insofar as they bear on the matters covered
hereby.  As to all matters of Minnesota law, we have relied, with your
consent, upon the opinion of even date herewith rendered to you by Deborah A.
Amberg, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company.  As to all matters of New York law, Deborah A. Amberg, Esq.,
is hereby authorized to rely upon this opinion to the same extent as if this
opinion had been addressed to her.
We hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
Very
truly yours,
/s/
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
MORGAN,
LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
Exhibit
23(a)
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 of our report dated February 13, 2009, except for the "ATC Summarized
Financial Data" section of Note 5, as to which the date is February 26, 2009,
relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule
and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which
appears in ALLETE, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
December 31, 2008.  We also consent to the references to us under the
heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in such Registration
Statement.
/s/
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP
Minneapolis,
Minnesota
November
4, 2009
Exhibit
23(b)
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form
S-8 of our report dated June 12, 2009, with respect to the statements of net
assets available for benefits of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for the years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007, the related statements of changes in net assets available for
benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the related supplemental
schedules as of December 31, 2008, which report appears in the December 31,
2008, annual report on Form 11-K of the Minnesota Power and Affiliated Companies
Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan.  We also consent to the
references to us under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in
such Registration Statement.
/s/
Reilly, Penner & Benton LLP
Reilly,
Penner & Benton LLP
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
November
4, 2009