FPL Group understands the importance of corporate responsibility and environmental responsibility

Environmental honor

FPL's environmental performance received special recognition in 1998 as the company became the first electric utility to earn the U.S. Coast Guard's highest honor for excellence in marine environmental protection _ the William M. Benkert Award. Activities honored by the Coast Guard include completion of a $1.5 million study to mitigate fuel spill impacts, programs to protect and preserve endangered species, and an oil spill prevention and response program.

Cleanest utility

FPL is the largest electric utility in Florida, and its kilowatt-hour sales have increased by about one-third since 1990, reflecting customer growth and higher usage. FPL has successfully met this growth, while building on its sterling environmental record.

Among the nine largest utilities in Florida, FPL was recently ranked the cleanest by the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation based on emissions that cause smog, acid rain and global warming. Nationally, FPL's emission rate per kilowatt-hour for carbon dioxide is among the lowest and has declined since 1990. FPL's success reflects an increase in the use of gas combined-cycle technology, greater fuel efficiency and higher output from nuclear units.

Protecting nature

FPL supports many programs to protect endangered species and to promote the preservation of their natural habitats. For example, the cooling canals at the Turkey Point plant are one of only three nesting areas in the country for the endangered North American saltwater crocodile, where each year several hundred hatchlings emerge. FPL facilities provide refuge for the endangered West Indian manatee. Every winter hundreds of these gentle creatures seek warm waters discharged from FPL's power plants.

Keeping fit

FPL Group received the Gold Well Workforce Award from the Wellness Council of America for offering quality on-site fitness centers and health awareness programs for its employees.

Safety first

Safety is a critical area of focus, and the company's Safety 2000 initiative works to more aggressively and regularly promote safety awareness among employees and customers. These efforts are paying off. For example, distribution system workers reduced the number of serious injuries by 28%. Customer programs include a safety calendar contest in which children are invited to submit drawings depicting safe practices with electricity. Another FPL-sponsored program focuses on helping the public avoid contacting power lines. The "Safety Six-Pack" series of posters, brochures and stickers is distributed mostly to businesses that operate equipment that could contact power lines, such as cranes and backhoes.

Community support

FPL and its employees are involved in a number of activities that help improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. For example, during the 1998 United Way campaign, employees pledged more than $1.6 million, an 11% increase over 1997 while the company contributed another $630,000. Two dozen employees of the Martin plant are involved in a program to mentor students in the local Indiantown community. The program targets a reduction in the drop-out rate among a diverse minority student population. In Volusia County, FPL's award-winning efforts include helping establish an educational foundation that provides direct support to schools, and Career Connection that helps students relate school experience more directly to the work environment. A team of 550 employees participated in the annual Race for the Cure in West Palm Beach, an event that benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. FPL had the largest corporate team in the race, showing its commitment to this important cause to win the battle against breast cancer.