April
3, 2002
FPL Energy places order for 175 Vestas wind turbines, with option
for 650 additional units
JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- FPL Energy, LLC, the independent power
production subsidiary of FPL Group Inc. (NYSE: FPL), today announced
an agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S of Denmark for delivery
of approximately 175 wind turbines and an option for an additional
650 turbines.
Delivery of the 660-kilowatt turbines will begin in 2002 and will
support the planned expansion of wind-driven electricity generation
projects underway at FPL Energy.
"Wind projects will be a major element of our expansion activity
in 2002 and 2003," said Ron Green, president of FPL Energy.
"We expect to add 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts of wind power to
our portfolio by the end of next year."
FPL Energy is the largest generator of electricity from wind turbines
in the United States. It currently owns and operates wind farms
in eight states with more than 1,400 megawatts of capacity.
"As the leading U.S. developer of wind power, it is important
for FPL Energy to secure a reliable source of wind turbines for
use in projects we are developing today and into the future,"
said Mr. Green.
Approximately 80 percent of FPL Energy's electric generation is
fueled by renewable sources or clean-burning natural gas. Wind power
represents nearly 28 percent of the company's 5,063-megawatt portfolio.
Last month, Congress extended the production tax credit for operating
wind projects. Projects that become operational by the end of 2003
will receive a 1.7-cent per kilowatt-hour tax credit, adjusted for
inflation, for a ten-year period.
"We continued our wind project development activities during
the first part of this year, and the extension of the production
tax credit in March gave us the green light to quickly advance these
important projects to construction."
"Wind power is an important component of our nation's move
toward energy independence as we harness our natural resources for
production of electricity. It is a clean, renewable source of energy
that can be sited, built and in operation much more rapidly than
conventional fossil fuel facilities," Mr. Green said.
"Typically, wind farms can be constructed in six to nine months,
and they are profitable from the first day of operation," said
Mr. Green. Last year, FPL Energy built nearly 850 megawatts of wind-powered
generating facilities, approximately half of what was built in the
United States.
"A large percentage of our current wind facilities are equipped
with Vestas turbines," said Mr. Green. "We are pleased
to move forward with such a reliable supplier for our future expansion."
FPL Energy is the nation's leader in wind energy generation, with
24 wind farms in Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington,
Oregon and California. The company is a leading independent producer
of clean energy from natural gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric.
Its portfolio includes 73 facilities in operation, under construction,
or in advanced stages of development in 17 states.
FPL Group, with annual revenues of more than $8 billion, is nationally
known as a high quality, efficient, and customer-driven organization
focused on energy-related products and services. With a growing
presence in more than 17 states, it is widely recognized as one
of the country's premier power companies. Its principal subsidiary,
Florida Power & Light Company, serves approximately 4 million
customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, an FPL Group energy-generating
subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and
renewable fuels. FPL FiberNet, LLC is a leading provider of fiber-optic
networks in Florida. Additional information is available on the
Internet at www.fplgroup.com,
www.fpl.com,
www.fplenergy.com
and www.fplfibernet.com
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