FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group (NYSE:FPL) 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.

The 278-megawatt King Mountain Clean Energy Center near Odessa, Texas, and the 263-megawatt Stateline Clean Energy Center near Walla Walla, Washington, 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, Kansas, and 30 megawatts at Monfort, Wisconsin. In all, FPL Energy began operating 844 megawatts of wind power during 2001, more than double its prior capacity of wind energy.

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.

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.

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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