Exhibit 23(a)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statements on Form S-3 of our report dated February 12, 2007, except as to Note 7 for which the date is February 15, 2007, relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in ALLETE Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota

December 10, 2007