JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of
FPL Group (NYSE: FPL) and the nation's largest wind energy producer, today
announced full operation of two large wind energy facilities, one in Texas and
one along the Washington-Oregon border.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010621/FPLLOGO )
The 278-megawatt King Mountain Clean Energy Center near Odessa, Texas, and
the 263-megawatt Stateline Clean Energy Center near Walla Walla, Wash., went
into operation in mid-December.
The two new energy centers join three other wind power facilities put into
operation by FPL Energy during 2001 -- 160-megawatts at Woodward Mountain,
also near Odessa, Texas, 112-megawatts in Gray County, Kan., and 30-megawatts
at Monfort, Wis. In all, FPL Energy began operating 844-megawatts of wind
power during 2001, more than double its prior capacity of wind energy.
"This has been a banner year for FPL Energy's development of wind power
throughout the central and western regions of the country," said Dean
Gosselin, FPL Energy vice president of wind development. "We know there are
many more opportunities for wind energy throughout the country and great
support in many regions for new wind power facilities."
As the leader in wind energy generation in the United States, FPL Energy
operates 1,830-megawatts and owns 1,439-megawatts of wind power facilities in
eight states.
"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," Gosselin said.
The company will continue looking for appropriate sites for wind power
development, but expressed concern about the future of this fast growing and
clean renewable energy source following the December expiration of the federal
wind energy production tax credit. The federal tax credit would apply to
future wind facilities in operation.
"Elimination of the federal production tax credit for wind power will
negatively impact future construction of these important renewable energy
power plants across the country. Many suppliers of wind energy components slow
or close their production lines and even those who would like to move forward
with wind projects will be unable to do so," Gosselin said. "FPL Energy will
continue working with Members of Congress to extend the wind energy production
tax credit," he added.
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.
FPL Energy is a leading independent producer of clean energy from natural
gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric. The company's portfolio includes 73
facilities in operation, under construction, or in advanced stages of
development in 17 states. Wind power represents 29 percent of the company's
portfolio, with a total of 80 percent being fueled by renewable sources or
clean-burning natural gas.
SOURCE FPL Energy, LLC
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Related links:
http://www.fplenergy.com
http://www.fpl.com
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AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/319763.html
CONTACT:
FPL Energy, LLC Corporate Communications,
+1-305-552-3555, or LIPA, +1-516-719-9838
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