FPL Energy to Build Third Wind Farm in North Dakota

FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group (NYSE:FPL), today said it has received the necessary approvals and will begin construction immediately on a new wind energy center in North Dakota capable of generating 49.5 megawatts. FPL Energy will build, own and operate the new Wilton Wind Energy Center and will sell the electricity output to Basin Electric Power Cooperative, under a long-term contract.

FPL Energy expects to construct 33 1.5-megawatt wind turbines on more than 8,000 acres southeast of Wilton in Burleigh County, North Dakota. The turbines will provide enough electricity to meet the needs of nearly 15,000 homes. FPL Energy said the Wilton Wind Energy Center is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

“The Wilton project represents another important milestone in the disciplined growth of our wind portfolio and will be an excellent complement to our existing assets in the region,” said Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of development for FPL Energy. “We are pleased to be bringing an additional source of clean, renewable power to North Dakota and look forward to furthering our relationship with Basin Electric. We applaud Basin’s ongoing commitment to clean, renewable wind energy.”

North Dakota Governor John Hoeven, said, “We commend FPL Energy and Basin Electric for moving forward on their wind farm near Wilton. We’ve worked hard to support their efforts, including passing tax incentives for wind power and other renewable energy sources. This is one of five wind energy projects currently in development in our state, and we’re committed to working with outstanding companies like Basin and FPL Energy to develop North Dakota’s energy resources.”

Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, said, “The Wilton Wind Farm is the result of an established relationship between Basin Electric and FPL Energy. The cooperative electric power supply structure has meant so much to our region. In the last two years, Basin Electric and FPL Energy have worked hard together to develop the largest wind resources in North Dakota and South Dakota. With the success of the Edgeley/Kulm and Highmore wind farms that have been operational since 2003, we are continuing to integrate wind production with our other generating resources to meet our member loads. Without the commitments of Basin Electric and FPL Energy, these wind farms would not have been built.”

The project also includes an approximate 4.4-mile high-voltage transmission line that will connect to an existing transmission line owned by the Western Area Power Administration. Central Power Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric member system headquartered in Minot, N.D., will construct, own and operate this interconnection line.

The Wilton Wind Energy Center will be FPL Energy’s third wind project in North Dakota and third wind project with Basin Electric. FPL Energy currently owns and operates a 40.5 megawatt and 21 megawatt wind energy center, both near Kulm/Edgeley, North Dakota and another 40.5 megawatt wind energy center near Highmore, South Dakota. Basin purchases the output from FPL Energy’s larger North Dakota wind energy center and all of the output from its South Dakota wind energy center.

With the addition of the Wilton project, FPL Energy has announced new wind projects representing 300 megawatts that are expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2005. In addition, the company has already completed and entered into service two wind projects this year, the Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center in Texas and the Weatherford Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma, adding 220.5 megawatts to its wind portfolio.

FPL Energy is a leading wholesale generator of clean power, including natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric and nuclear. It is the nation’s leader in wind energy, with 45 wind facilities in operation in 15 states. It is a subsidiary of FPL Group, one of the nation’s largest providers of electricity-related services with annual revenues of more than $10 billion. FPL Group’s principal subsidiary is Florida Power & Light Company, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving 4.3 million customer accounts in Florida. Additional information is available on the Internet at http://www.FPLEnergy.com, http://www.FPLGroup.com and http://www.FPL.com.

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