June 26, 2002

FPL Energy announces construction of large wind energy facility in West Virginia

JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL) today announced it will build, own and operate the largest wind energy project in the eastern United States, the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center, to be located in Tucker and Preston Counties, West Virginia. The project was formerly known as the Backbone Mountain Wind Project.

The entire output of the 66-megawatt wind energy facility will be sold to Exelon Power Team over a 20-year period. Exelon will market the green power to retail customers through a marketing arrangement with Community Energy, Inc. of Wayne, PA.

The Mountaineer Wind Energy Center will be comprised of 44 NEG Micon 1.5-megawatt wind turbines spread over a 4,400 acre site on Backbone Mountain near Thomas, WV.

Construction is expected to begin in early July and be completed by the end of the year. FPL Energy purchased the project from Atlantic Renewable Energy Corporation of Richmond, VA.

"As FPL Energy continues to expand its wind energy business, we're pleased to be locating the largest wind facility in the East in the heart of West Virginia," said FPL Energy President Ron Green.

"We would like to thank our local landowners, neighbors and the regional environmental community, as well as numerous state, county and local officials for their strong support of the project over the last three years of development," said Atlantic Renewable Principal Theo de Wolff. "We are excited that FPL Energy is coming into this project as the builder, owner and operator."

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 operates 1,758 megawatts of wind power and owns 1,423 megawatts of wind energy facilities.

FPL Energy is a leading independent producer of clean energy from natural gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric. The company's portfolio includes 76 facilities totaling more than 10, 600 megawatts in operation, under construction, or announced acquisitions in 19 states. Wind power represents 28 percent of the company's operating portfolio, with a total of 80 percent being fueled by renewable sources or clean-burning natural gas.

FPL Energy is a subsidiary of FPL Group, one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services. FPL Group has annual revenues of more than $8 billion. Its principal subsidiary is Florida Power & Light Company, one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving more than 4 million customer accounts in Florida.

Atlantic Renewable Energy Corporation is the leading developer of wind projects in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern US, having put together more than 70 percent of all installed wind power capacity in the region. Atlantic Renewable has another 300+ MW of projects under development in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.