JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Florida Power & Light Company, a leader in clean energy and responsible environmental practices, was honored today by the National Biodiesel Board with its “Eye on Biodiesel” Award for its use of cleaner biodiesel fuel in its diesel fleet.
FPL was commended for its progressive use of B-20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel), which the company first began using in 1999 as a cleaner alternative to diesel fuel. Biodiesel reduces net carbon dioxide emissions by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel, according to a study by the Departments of Energy and Agriculture. Today, FPL’s entire diesel fleet of almost 2,500 vehicles runs on B-20.
“Just as we are committed to leadership in delivering clean energy to our customers, we want to utilize cleaner practices in our own operations,” said George Survant, director of fleet services for FPL. “Biodiesel fuel is one of the solutions that is helping us to protect our environment.”
FPL’s energy-conscious practices also include the commercialization of industrial hybrid vehicles. As the first company in the United States to put an industrial hybrid truck into service in 2006, FPL has since led a group of 30 utilities from across the country in developing a pilot hybrid truck program. With 11 hybrid trucks in its fleet, FPL’s fleet represents the largest medium duty hybrid fleet in the country.
The trucks are widely regarded as the cleanest in the country, Survant noted. FPL’s hybrid trucks are engineered to use 30 to 55 percent less fuel than standard trucks
FPL plans to double the number of hybrids in the company’s fleet every year for the next three to four years and convert one-third of its 2,900 company cars to hybrids by 2010. The company has 53 hybrid cars on the road today.
Last year, the Council for Sustainable Florida presented the Large Business Award to FPL for its Green Fleet Program, an initiative to reduce fuel consumption in the utility’s fleet.
About FPL
Florida Power & Light Company is the principal subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL), nationally known as a high quality, efficient and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With annual revenues of over $15 billion and a growing presence in 27 states, FPL Group is widely recognized as one of the country's premier power companies. Florida Power & Light Company serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, FPL Group's competitive energy subsidiary is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.FPL.com, http://www.FPLGroup.com and www.FPLEnergy.com.