June
11, 2003
FPL Energy announces expansion of Oklahoma wind farm
JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL
Group (NYSE: FPL), today announced a 51-megawatt expansion of its
Oklahoma Wind Energy Center and an agreement with Oklahoma Gas and
Electric (OG&E) to purchase the entire output from the expansion
under a long-term contract.
Today's announcement brings the total capacity of the Oklahoma
Wind Energy Center, the first large scale wind energy project in
Oklahoma, to 102 megawatts.
Construction of the project serving OG&E will begin after approval
of the power purchase agreement between FPL Energy and OG&E
by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The project is expected
to reach commercial operation by the end of 2003.
Mike O'Sullivan, senior vice president of development for FPL Energy,
said, "We are pleased to be able to expand the first wind energy
project in Oklahoma and add to our industry leading wind energy
portfolio. Wind power is a clean, renewable source of energy that
can help to diversify our nation's energy supply and meet customers
energy needs. We look forward to working with OG&E on this new
project."
"We are pleased to work with a partner of FPL Energy's caliber
to deliver wind-generated power to our customers," said Jack
Coffman, OG&E senior vice president for power supply. "This
project enables us to offer our customers a new choice. It's an
exciting addition to our power supply resources."
The 102-megawatt Oklahoma Wind Energy Center will be comprised
of 68 1.5-MW turbines spread over a 1,200-acre site near Woodward,
in northwest Oklahoma. As previously announced, the Oklahoma Municipal
Power Authority has also agreed to purchase 51 megawatts, which
is under construction, from the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center under
a long-term contract.
With the expansion of the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center, FPL Energy
has announced nearly 650 megawatts of new wind energy projects that
are under construction or in advanced stages of development that
will be operational by the end of 2003.
FPL Energy is the nation's leader in wind energy, with 30 wind
facilities in 10 states. FPL Energy is a leading independent producer
of clean energy from natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear and hydroelectric.
Wind power represents approximately 24 percent of the company's
portfolio, with more than 80 percent being fueled by renewable or
clean-burning sources. It is a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc., nationally
known as a high quality, efficient and customer-driven organization
focused on energy-related products and services. Its sister subsidiary,
Florida Power & Light Company, serves more than 4 million customer
accounts in Florida. Additional information is available on the
Internet at www.FPLGroup.com,
www.FPL.com and www.FPLEnergy.com.
OG&E is Oklahoma's largest utility, with 5,800 megawatts of
coal- and natural gas-fired generation serving 720,000 customers
in a service territory spanning 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma
and western Arkansas. OG&E is a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based
OGE Energy Corp., which also is the parent company of Enogex Inc.,
a natural gas pipeline and energy marketing business with principal
operations in Oklahoma and Arkansas.
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