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Business

FPL and NASA – A Powerful Partnership

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“Whether it’s supporting future space flight or the growing needs of businesses and residents of the Space Coast, FPL and its Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center will stand ready to power that future with affordable, reliable electricity,” said Mark Lemasney, FPL’s General Manager at its Cape Canaveral Plant.

Juno Beach, FL (March 16, 2012) — In April, 1965, just weeks before astronaut Ed White opened the hatch of Gemini 4 to become the first American to walk into space, Florida Power & Light launched a new power plant to help provide energy for the emerging space program.

The company gave its facility a name to reflect this new and vital partnership – the Cape Canaveral Power Plant.

“NASA’s had a partnership with Florida Power & Light since the ‘60’s,” said NASA Public Affairs Director Allard Beutel. “President Kennedy laid out a few years earlier that we would go to the moon and back safely by the end of the 1960’s. And that was all from scratch. We needed buildings and facilities and everything requires electricity.”

From the Apollo missions, which achieved that most magnificent goal of landing a man on the moon, to the shuttle program and the construction of the international space station, NASA’s investments in the future, and innovations in technology helped it soar to new heights.

For nearly 50 years, FPL has helped its partner fuel that innovation.

“The plant became more efficient,” said Mark Lemasney, FPL’s General Manager at its Cape Canaveral Plant. “We added natural gas to what was originally an oil fired plant. We invested to improve our operations, which allowed us to meet the growing needs of the space program.”

In 2010, FPL prepared to take its most innovative step yet. The company demolished its original plant to make room for a new, highly efficient clean energy center. The Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center, scheduled to come online in 2013, is designed to produce more electricity using a third less fuel and cut emissions in half. “This really is an investment in the future,” said Lemansey. “We will create a state of the art, clean energy center that will pay for itself in the savings our customers, including NASA, will realize over the life of this plant.”

The project is already having a powerful impact on the Space Coast.

“It’s beautiful, it’s incredible,” said Sarah Cespedes of Port St. John, who works as a receptionist on the site of the future clean energy center. “There are a lot of local people working here and I’m one of them.”

James Gatton of Meritt Island is another local resident who has joined the 650 people employed on the project. He says he’s excited about the work and the legacy they are building for the region.

“It has been fantastic,” said Gatton. “With the state of the economy, it’s really boosting it.”

When the project is complete, the new clean energy center is expected to generate $12 million in tax revenue to the local schools and governments in the Brevard County area. “Whether it’s supporting future space flight or the growing needs of businesses and residents of the Space Coast, FPL and its Cape Canaveral Next Generation Clean Energy Center will stand ready to power that future with affordable, reliable electricity,” said Lemasney.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Business, Energy

CEO Armando Olivera Outlines FPL’s Commitment to Economic Development and Clean, Affordable Energy

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FPL’s Chief Executive Officer Armando Olivera described how FPL is promoting business and job creation in the state by offering some of the most affordable and reliable energy in the nation and a new rate program to encourage economic development.

Juno Beach, FL (March 8, 2012) — In a keynote speech to hundreds of business leaders at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Florida Power & Light Co. Chief Executive Officer Armando Olivera described how FPL is promoting business and job creation in the state by offering some of the most affordable and reliable energy in the nation and a new rate program to encourage economic development.

The average FPL residential customer has a bill that is the lowest among Florida’s 55 electric utilities, and about 25 percent lower than the national average, said Olivera. “In fact, over the course of an entire year, our typical customer saves an average of $357 compared to what they would pay in other parts of Florida. FPL’s business customers also have electric bills that are among the lowest in the state and well below the national average.”

The FPL chief executive told the audience at the Chamber’s Trustee Luncheon how his company is building on its commitment to help Florida businesses by offering an “Economic Development Rate.” With the approval of the state’s Public Service Commission, eligible commercial and industrial businesses can now receive reduced utility rates. The rate is available to new or expanding businesses that add at least 350 kilowatts of new demand on the grid and 10 new jobs per 350 kilowatts. According to Olivera, this economic growth initiative means an additional savings of up to $12,000 for the first year for a typical eligible customer

He told members FPL’s work on economic growth extends to the creation of its new Office of Economic Development, which offers a suite of professional services intended to assist businesses with planning, energy efficiency initiatives, and more. Information about the office is available at http://www.poweringflorida.com.

Olivera noted that the Chamber, like Miami itself, has evolved and grown dramatically over the course of its long history. “Forty years ago the population of Miami-Dade County was a little more than 1.2 million people; today, it has more than doubled to nearly 2.5 million,” Olivera told the Chamber members. “And just like the County and its economy, the Chamber has grown – and diversified.”

In the same 40 years, FPL has evolved as well, he said, and the audience was treated to highlights of the company’s pioneering role in the transformation of the energy industry. Vintage photography served as a backdrop to Olivera’s brief historical review. He explained that decades ago, Miami-Dade’s electrical power was generated primarily by burning fuel in a conventional boiler. Since that time, FPL has led the way in implementing new technologies for power generation that are designed to increase efficiency and save money for customers.

“We built Turkey Point, our state’s first nuclear power plant, in 1972, and we were one of the first utilities in the nation to build a power plant using a combustion turbine,” said Olivera. “We were also one of the first to build a combined-cycle power plant.” He told Chamber members that FPL’s focus on efficiency means lower bills for customers, and strides forward for the environment.

As further examples of the company’s focus on efficiency, the FPL chief executive discussed new power plant construction and new technology development. He pointed to Florida’s newest combined-cycle natural gas power plant – FPL’s West County Energy Center -which achieves a 50 percent increase in fuel efficiency compared to conventional boilers. Olivera also reviewed FPL’s Fleet Performance and Diagnostic Center, an industry-leading resource that continuously monitors more than one million data points in the company’s system, locating inefficiencies and potential operational problems.

FPL’s technology advances are paying big dividends for customers, according to Olivera. “The future of affordable and reliable energy in our service area is being built as we speak,” he said.

Before leaving, Olivera had one final message for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce – a message of thanks: “When I am at a Chamber event, I am not only spending time with leaders of the community, but also with great customers – and friends.”

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Business, Energy

Lineworkers from FPL and Other Utilities Honored By State

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“The hardworking men and women of Florida who risk their lives daily in extremely dangerous situations to ensure the reliable delivery of electric energy to all citizens of the state are most deserving of gratitude, appreciation and honor,” said State Rep. Seth McKeel of Lakeland, reading from an honorary resolution that designated August 26 as “Lineworker Appreciation Day” in the State of Florida.

Tallahassee, Fla. – March 2, 2012 — Judging from the scene outside the Florida Capitol on March 2, 2012, you might have thought that lawmakers were facing a serious power outage – with bucket trucks and hard hat-clad lineworkers gathered by the dozens. But quite the contrary, lawmakers had invited utility employees from across the state, including many from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to recognize them for their outstanding service.

“The hardworking men and women of Florida who risk their lives daily in extremely dangerous situations to ensure the reliable delivery of electric energy to all citizens of the state are most deserving of gratitude, appreciation and honor,” said State Rep. Seth McKeel of Lakeland, reading from an honorary resolution that designated August 26 as “Lineworker Appreciation Day” in the State of Florida.

McKeel was motivated by Tracy Moore, wife of former Lakeland Electric Lineman Marc Moore, who died in an unfortunate accident several years ago. Tracy has been working to keep her husband’s memory alive by honoring lineworkers who respond to emergencies and often work in harm’s way to restore power for Floridians.

Lineworkers from many Florida utilities converged on Tallahassee for the announcement. FPL was represented by five North Florida employees – Distribution Supervisor Danny Dean, Sr. Line Specialist Bob Harrison and Restoration Specialists Corey Koshinski, Wes Richardson and Otis Smith.

“We came to show support and respect for our colleagues across the state,” said Dean. “While safety is always our top priority, there’s always an element of risk involved in our jobs, but we take a great deal of pride in serving the people of Florida. It’s an honor to be recognized for the work that we do.”

The line specialists were joined by several members of FPL’s Tallahassee office, who turned out to support their fellow employees.

“It’s important for all of us to honor the vital work that our line specialists perform every day to ensure our customers have safe, affordable, reliable electricity,” said Paul Hamilton, FPL Vice President of State Legislative Affairs. “They’ve got tough jobs, and we’re proud that the state is recognizing the work they do.”

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Business

FPL Engineer Shares Love of Engineering with Under-Served Youth

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“It’s important to me to be able to give back to my community by promoting science and engineering fields to children who have limited exposure to them,” said FPL Production Assurance Engineer Melanie Roger. “If I can help get young children interested in the sciences and have a desire to enter into the field, than I feel as though I’ve been successful. We should all do our part in ensuring the success of our future leaders.”

Juno Beach, FL, February 25, 2012 — Florida Power & Light’s Melanie Roger has a passion for her profession.

As a young girl, she dreamed of going into medicine, like her parents. It wasn’t until she got to college, at the University of South Florida, that she decided to change course. Roger switched her major to engineering, hoping it would help her “stand out” among the other medical school candidates. During her course of study, she discovered this was her true love.

“It taught me a different way to think and how to solve a problem using numerous methods,” Roger said. “I want to share that with others.”

As a Production Assurance Engineer at Florida Power and Light’s Lauderdale combined cycle plant, Roger enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for engineering with the youth of her community. She volunteers with a group called SECME – the Southeastern Consortium of Minorities in Engineering. It’s a national organization that seeks to prepare under-served or under-represented students for careers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

“It’s important to me to be able to give back to my community by promoting science and engineering fields to children who have limited exposure to them,” said Roger. “If I can help get young children interested in the sciences and have a desire to enter into the field, than I feel as though I’ve been successful. We should all do our part in ensuring the success of our future leaders.”

This month, Roger got a chance to share her passion for engineering with students from 55 schools throughout Palm Beach County. She served as a judge at the annual SECME Olympiad – a competition that’s the result of a year’s worth of study, experimentation and creativity.

This year students squared off at Santaluces High School in Boynton Beach on Feb. 11. The Olympiad theme, “Plan It, Live It, Build It” featured a wide variety of hands-on activities and competitions that included a “Brain Bowl” – a trivia-like game that pits students against the clock and one another, to answer science-related questions. The students also competed against one another to see who could design the strongest wooden bridge, the fastest “mousetrap car” (propelled by a spring through a mousetrap), and the highest-flying water bottle rocket. Other competitions included creating essays, poems, banners and posters for the event.

Roger joined several other FPL engineers as a volunteer judge. “It was so energizing to see how excited the kids were about participating in the Brain Bowl,” she said.

Roger advises students that pursuing a career in engineering can be challenging, but she says it is also very rewarding. She encourages students to feed their curiosity and never stop learning. “Perseverance always prevails,” she says.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com

Business, Energy

50 West Palm Beach Families received Free Home Energy Makeovers from FPL for Valentine’s Day

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“Our energy makeover teams are helping make the lowest electric bill in the state even lower by sharing tips from FPL’s energy efficiency programs and implementing easy, low-cost improvements that can save customers even more money,” said FPL’s External Affairs Director Don Kiselewski.

Juno Beach, FL, February 15, 2012 — In partnership with the City of West Palm Beach, Florida Power & Light Company recently gave 50 families in the Poinciana and Vedado Park neighborhoods a special Valentine’s Day present. The families received free Home Energy Makeovers, where FPL experts installed energy-efficient upgrades to help residents save money and lessen their impact on the environment by reducing energy consumption. FPL’s Home Energy Makeovers also marked the kick-off for the City’s Fourth Annual e4 Sustainability Summit, a two week-long initiative designed to help residents learn how to incorporate green practices into their daily lives.

Approximately 60 energy experts from FPL and city employee volunteers traveled through neighborhoods to deliver the energy efficiency upgrades, which are expected to save these FPL customers, many of whom are senior citizens living on fixed incomes, as much as 25 percent on their utility bills.

Since 2006, FPL has installed extensive energy efficiency upgrades in 700 homes through the company’s Home Energy Makeover program. The program cumulatively is saving the participants an estimated $140,000 combined each year.

“FPL is proud to continue our partnership with the City of West Palm Beach, and help more residents in the area reduce their energy use and save on their monthly expenses,” said FPL’s External Affairs Director Don Kiselewski. “Our energy makeover teams are helping make the lowest electric bill in the state even lower by sharing tips from FPL’s energy efficiency programs and implementing easy, low-cost improvements that can save customers even more money.”

City officials, including City of West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and Commissioner William Moss, joined approximately 60 FPL volunteers and helped out with energy-efficient upgrades as part of the Home Energy Makeover team.

“Giving our residents the resources to be more energy-efficient in their daily lives is a big priority for us, and the makeovers are the perfect start to our e4 Sustainability Summit,” Mayor Muoio said. “Our partnership with FPL helps give the residents of West Palm Beach the tools and information they need to save money and make a positive impact on their daily lives.”

A total of 12 Home Energy Makeover teams visited homes of pre-qualified customers for up to two hours each to install upgrades and educate homeowners about ways to reduce their energy usage. Upgrades included:

• Repairing air conditioning ducts
• Checking and installing insulation
• Installing lifetime air conditioning filters
• Installing compact fluorescent lights
• Inserting refrigerator and freezer thermometers
• Installing weather stripping
• Installing water-saving showerheads and faucets

Most of these energy efficiency upgrades can be adopted by any FPL customer looking to make smarter, cleaner energy choices. Customers can learn about the improvements installed with Home Energy Makeovers by visiting the Energy Savings Toolkit section at http://www.FPL.com and taking a free, online Home Energy Survey.

Visit http://tinyurl.com/FPLvalentinesmakeover to see photos from the event.

About Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla. – based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit http://www.FPL.com.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888
kristy.kennedy@rbbpr.com
http://www.fpl.com