Countdown to energy independence: FPL announces Port Everglades Power Plant demolition will take place on July 16

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Jun 12, 2013, 10:00 ET

JUNO BEACH, Fla., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to changing Florida's energy future, Florida Power & Light Company today announced that the four red-and-white-striped, 350-foot-tall stacks and 7,500-ton boilers at its 1960s-era Port Everglades Power Plant in Hollywood, Fla., will be demolished on July 16, 2013, to make way for a new, high-efficiency, clean power plant.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120301/FL62738LOGO )

"This important investment has received broad support from the community, environmentalists, business leaders and Florida Public Service Commission – all of whom recognize the significant benefits – including fuel savings, reliability, reduced emissions, job creation and increased tax revenue for the local community," said FPL President Eric Silagy. "We're excited to take another step toward making us more energy independent than ever before."

Environmental Impact
By rebuilding this plant with the latest technology, FPL's environmental profile – already among the best in the United States – will improve. Compared to the former plant, the new plant will cut the carbon dioxide emissions rate in half and reduce air emissions by more than 90 percent. That's the equivalent of removing about 46,000 cars from the road each year.

Economic Impact
The project will also create an estimated 650 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs during the height of construction, and support many local businesses. And in the first full year of operation alone, this investment will deliver approximately $20 million in new tax revenue to local governments and school districts.

Visit www.FPL.com/Port to learn more.

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida and serves the third-largest number of customers of any electric utility in the United States. FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees as of year-end 2012. During the five-year period ended December 31, 2012, the company delivered the best service reliability among Florida investor-owned utilities. As of year-end 2012, its typical residential customer bills are the lowest in Florida, and based on data available in July 2012, are about 26 percent below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company