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News Release
Oct. 1, 2003
Gov. Richardson Joins FPL Energy and PNM
To Dedicate
World's Third-Largest Wind Generation Facility
House, N.M.: Gov. Bill Richardson and executives of
FPL Energy and Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) were
joined by hundreds of business, environmental and community
leaders today to dedicate the New Mexico Wind Energy Center,
the world's third largest wind generation facility.
The wind center is located near House, N.M., which is home
to 69 people.
The wind center captures eastern New Mexico's brisk winds
to produce up to 204 megawatts (MW) of electricity, or enough
to supply 94,000 average-sized homes. Unlike most power plants,
it uses no water for energy production – an important
feature in a drought-stricken state. FPL Energy, a subsidiary
of FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), owns and operates the wind center;
PNM, a subsidiary of PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM), purchases
all of its output.
"I want our state to be a national leader when it comes
to wind and solar energy," said Gov. Bill Richardson.
"The New Mexico Wind Energy Center is a great first step
toward fulfilling my goal to have 10 percent of New Mexico's
energy come from renewable sources by 2010."
Jim Robo, president of FPL Energy said, "The New Mexico
Wind Energy Center is a prime example of a great project put
together by a terrific team. Through hard work, dedication
and teamwork, we have put together a project of which we can
all be proud. We appreciate the support we have received in
the area for our company and this project and are grateful
for the commitment by our partners to wind energy."
"With this facility now operational, we have crossed
a threshold from worthy goal to new reality in New Mexico,"
said Jeff Sterba, PNM chairman, president and CEO. "This
is a living symbol of what can be accomplished when the public
and private sectors work together to achieve sustainable economic
prosperity."
The new facility catapults New Mexico to top-ten status among
the 50 states for renewable energy production. It also allows
PNM, the state's largest electric and gas utility, to begin
offering renewable energy to its 385,000 electric customers
for the first time.
Albuquerque lawyer Suedeen Kelly, a White House nominee to
fill a vacant position on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC), today became the first PNM residential customer to
subscribe to PNM Sky Blue, PNM's voluntary renewable program.
The program begins today. Kelly was a commissioner on and
chair of the state Public Service Commission, a predecessor
organization to the state's current Public Regulation Commission,
and currently practices law with Modrall, Sperling, Roehl,
Harris & Sisk, P.A., a New Mexico-based law firm.
Ranchers and Environmentalists
Supporting Renewable Energy
The wind center will generate a local economic impact of
more than $40 million during the next 25 years through lease
payments, salaries and payments to local school districts
in lieu of taxes.
"This has been a wonderful shot in the arm for the community,"
said Renee Carter, whose cattle ranch plays host to six of
the center's 136 wind turbines. "The droughts have really
hurt the local ranchers and farmers, and this has given us
a viable option to keep our homes and ranches."
"Agriculture is our bedrock business. Now the locals
are able to hang on, in spite of the drought, and to look
to the future," she said.
The Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy (CCAE), New Mexico's
largest energy-oriented consumer interest and environmental
group, hails the new wind farm as a major step forward for
New Mexico.
"This very serious wind power facility will displace
half a million tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas and
the main cause of global warming, use no water to do so, and
will bring great benefits to our rural communities,"
said Ben Luce, CCAE chair. "We strongly encourage New
Mexicans to support this project, and thereby help us expand
renewable energy generation even further in New Mexico."
The wind center is located 20 miles northeast of Fort Sumner.
The turbines sit atop towers 210 feet tall and are powered
by blades more than 110 feet in length.
FPL Energy is a leading unregulated wholesale
generator of clean energy, including natural gas, wind, solar,
hydroelectric and nuclear. It is the nation's leader in wind
energy with 32 wind facilities in operation in 11 states.
FPL Energy has a generating portfolio of more than 10,000
net megawatts in operation with more than 2,000 megawatts
coming from clean and renewable wind energy. It is a subsidiary
of FPL Group (NYSE:FPL), one of the nation's largest providers
of electricity-related services with annual revenues of more
than $8 billion. FPL Group's principal subsidiary is Florida
Power & Light Company, one of the nation's largest electric
utilities, serving more than 4 million customer accounts in
Florida. Additional information is available on the Internet
at www.FPLEnergy.com, www.FPLGroup.com and www.FPL.com.
PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources,
an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides
natural gas service to 441,000 gas customers and electric
utility service to 378,000 customers in New Mexico. The company
also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S.
PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under
the symbol PNM. For more information about our company, see
our web site at PNM.com.
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