FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group 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.

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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.

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SOURCE: FPL Energy, LLC