JUNO BEACH, Fla. -- Florida Power & Light Company said today that it is pleased to see that the primary recommendation from the Florida Public Service Commission staff recognizes the utility’s need to build an advanced clean coal technology power plant to meet customers’ future energy demands.

Armando Olivera, president of FPL, said, “For several years, we have received strong encouragement from the Florida Energy Plan, the Florida Legislature and the PSC to diversify our fuel mix.  We believe our proposed advanced clean coal technology plant is the only viable generation option for the near term to achieve that objective.”

In its primary recommendation, the PSC staff agreed with FPL on every key issue regarding its need petition for the FPL Glades Power Park (FGPP).

1. YES: There is a need for the proposed generating units, taking into account the need for electric system reliability and integrity.
2. YES: There is a need for the proposed generating units, taking into account the need for adequate electricity at a reasonable cost.
3. YES: There is a need for the proposed generating units, taking into account the need for fuel diversity and supply reliability.
4. YES: FPL has appropriately evaluated the cost of CO2 emission mitigation costs in its economic analysis.
5. YES: FGPP generating units include the costs for the environmental controls necessary to meet current state and federal environmental requirements, including mercury, NOx, SO2, and particulate emissions.
6. YES: The proposed generating units are the most cost-effective alternative available.

“Our proposed FPL Glades Power Park will provide our customers greater reliability and price stability. Incorporating state-of-the-art pollution control equipment, this advanced clean coal technology plant will be one of the cleanest coal plants in the nation,” Olivera said.  “This plant will help keep customers’ bills down and help our country achieve energy independence.”

The Commission staff’s primary recommendation also acknowledged that energy conservation measures could not mitigate the need for the proposed generating units. In its ten-year plan submitted to the PSC in April, FPL noted that it will meet approximately 26 percent of customers’ projected demand with energy conservation and energy management programs.  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, FPL leads the nation in energy conservation, delivering 13 percent of the utility industry’s efforts while serving only 3 percent of the country’s electricity customers.