JUNO BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2019) – Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and sister company Gulf Power, under parent NextEra Energy, Inc., are honored to be recognized on Site Selection magazine’s annual Top U.S. Utilities in Economic Development list.
The list, which is featured in the magazine’s September issue, is based on analysis of utility economic development impact, including jobs and capital investment associated with competitive business location decisions. Site Selection also evaluated website tools and data, innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, and each utility’s own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.
“As the largest utility in Florida and one of the state’s largest employers, we believe we have a responsibility to advance the state’s economic development activities,” said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO. “Staffed by some of the country’s top experts in the field, FPL’s Office of Economic Development is keenly aware that where a business decides to locate is based on a number of factors and that a successful economic development program goes beyond simply offering a discounted electric rate. Site Selection’s recognition of FPL’s economic development efforts is the direct result of the tireless work our team does each and every day to move Florida forward by working hand-in-hand with businesses, community leaders, state and local officials, and site selectors to help companies find their new home base in the Sunshine State.”
FPL decided to further its investment in economic development in 2011 as a way to create jobs and help strengthen Florida’s economy and make it more sustainable after the Great Recession. FPL offers two rates, the Economic Development Rider and the Commercial Industrial Service Rider, to companies that start-up, locate or expand in the 35 counties it serves, which provides additional savings that can be reinvested in the business.
Through its PoweringFlorida® website and team, FPL works throughout the state to leverage its global relationships and its reach to attract new businesses and help existing businesses grow. It leads the way in promoting Florida as a great place to do business with a website tool that serves as a one-stop-shop for businesses looking to expand or move to the state. This Explore Florida tool provides prospective partners with a convenient and complementary way to learn all about growth and investment in Florida’s communities. The tool showcases seven years of foreign direct investment data to support international corporate decision-making and is accessible to the public.
From 2013 to 2018, FPL’s Office of Economic Development has helped make a nearly $90 billion impact on Florida’s economy, resulting in more than 244,000 jobs for the state.
Gulf Power also has a long history of supporting economic development across its service area in Northwest Florida.
“We are honored to be recognized for our company’s commitment to strengthening not just the communities that we serve, but all of Florida,” said Marlene Santos, Gulf Power president. “Our team works hard every day – forming impactful partnerships, facilitating critical conversations and working side-by-side with new and growing businesses to help them succeed. We are proud to do our part to continue moving Florida forward.”
The company offers competitive incentives to commercial and industrial customers, promotes the region on a national and international level, and has hosted a regional signature economic development symposium for the last 23 years that focuses on strengthening collaboration amongst all cities and counties.
To help bring new business to the region and grow local business, Gulf Power developed Florida First Sites. Launched in 2013, the program was created to help communities prepare locations and attract new industries and jobs. To be designated as a Florida First Site, each site completed a rigorous certification process, ensuring prework is completed and taking the majority of the risk out of the site selection process for businesses. Currently, the program has nine certified sites and two of them have been occupied – including GKN Aerospace, a major aerospace manufacturer.
Since 2013, Gulf Power has worked with more than 185 companies resulting in approximately 60 location or expansion announcements.
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Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest energy company in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold, serving more than 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30% lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98%, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all electric companies nationwide. The company was recognized in 2018 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International for the fifth consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 9,100 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2019 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of Gulf Power Company, which serves more than 460,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
About Gulf Power
Gulf Power serves more than 460,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Gulf Power is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2019 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of Florida Power & Light Company, which serves more than 5 million customer accounts in Florida and is the largest energy company in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold; and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.