FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. , today announced that it will construct, operate and own a 517-megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant in Blythe, California.

Located midway between Los Angeles and Phoenix, the new plant will be one of the largest independent power generation projects in California. Electricity generated at the Blythe plant will have the capacity to power more than 500,000 homes in the state, and its output will be sold in the state's wholesale market. Given the plant's proximity to Arizona and Nevada, its power could be sold into those adjacent markets as conditions warrant.

Construction of the advanced technology, combined-cycle facility began in May 2001. The plant, 200 miles east of Los Angeles, is expected to begin commercial operation in early 2003.

"We are pleased to do our part in helping to alleviate the power shortfall in California by providing efficient, clean energy from this new plant," said Lew Hay, FPL Group president and chief executive officer.

Mr. Hay added, "The Blythe plant complements quite well our existing power generation portfolio in the region." He said the independent power producer currently operates 1,188 megawatts of generation and owns 542 megawatts in California. More than three-quarters of its California-based power plants generate electricity from renewable sources including wind and solar.

Participating in the project will be Caithness Energy, LLC, the original developer of the project.

FPL Energy is a leading independent producer of clean energy, including natural gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric. It owns and operates power plants with more than 4,300 total net megawatts in 13 states across the country. The company has announced projects that will add more than 6,000 megawatts of capacity to its portfolio by the end of 2003. Most of those projects are already under construction.

FPL Group, with annual revenues of more than $7 billion, is one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services. FPL Group's principal subsidiary is Florida Power & Light Company, one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving more than seven million people in Florida. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.fplenergy.com/, http://www.fplgroup.com/ and http://www.fpl.com/.

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SOURCE: FPL Energy, LLC