JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, released a discussion draft of a climate and energy bill today.  Lew Hay, chairman and CEO of FPL Group, the nation’s No. 1 producer of renewable energy from wind and solar power, issued the following statement:

“Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey have outlined a bold blueprint for dealing with America’s energy crisis.  Our nation is at a critical moment in history, confronted by a triple threat of challenges: an economy in recession, an overdependence on foreign energy, and a warming planet.  Chairmen Waxman and Markey understand that the solution to any one of these challenges is the solution to all three – putting a price on carbon dioxide to drive investment in clean energy.  A decade ago FPL Group had fewer than 500 megawatts of wind power nationwide.  Today we have nearly 6,400 megawatts, or more than 8,000 wind turbines, nationwide.  We also operate the world’s largest solar energy array and the country’s third-largest nuclear fleet, making us a global leader in low- and no-emissions electricity generation.  This discussion draft contains important provisions that will help the country make a full transition to the clean-energy economy of the 21st century – one that will create jobs, strengthen our energy security, and address the threat of global climate change.  We look forward to working with Chairmen Waxman and Markey to pass a bill this year.”

FPL Group: Energy Solutions for the Next Era  
FPL Group (NYSE: FPL) is a leading clean energy company with 2008 revenues of more than $16 billion, approximately 39,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and more than 15,000 employees in 27 states and Canada. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., FPL Group’s principal subsidiaries are NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the largest generator in North America of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and Florida Power & Light Company, which serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the country. Through its subsidiaries, FPL Group collectively operates the third largest U.S. nuclear power generation fleet. For more information about FPL Group companies, visit these Web sites:www.FPLGroup.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com, www.FPL.com.