May 20, 2009 Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 allard.beutel@nasa.gov Jackie Anderson Florida Power & Light 561-694-3496 jackie.anderson@fpl.com RELEASE: 29-09 MEDIA INVITED TO NASA AND FPL SOLAR FACILITY "GROUNDBREAKING" EVENT CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA and Florida Power & Light Company are beginning construction on a new solar power project at Kennedy Space Center. It's part of a public-private partnership that promotes a clean-energy future. Media are invited to the groundbreaking ceremony on May 27 at 11 a.m. EDT in the rocket garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Media interested in covering the event should contact Andrea Farmer at 321-449-4318 or Jillian McRae at 321-449-4273. Scheduled speakers at the event include Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Suzanne Kosmas and Rep. Bill Posey of Florida, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, and FPL President and CEO Armando Olivera. FPL, Florida's largest electric utility, will build and maintain two solar photovoltaic power generation systems at Kennedy. One will produce an estimated 10 megawatts of emissions-free power for FPL customers, which is enough energy to serve roughly 1,100 homes. The second is a one-megawatt solar power facility that will provide renewable energy directly to Kennedy. FPL currently is building 110 megawatts of solar power in the state, making Florida the second largest producer of solar energy in the United States. The FPL facilities at NASA will help provide Florida residents and America's space program with new sources of clean energy that will cut reliance on fossil fuels and improve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The one megawatt facility also will help NASA meet its goal for use of power generated from renewable energy. Video highlights of the May 27 event and supporting video B-roll will air that afternoon on the NASA TV Video File. For NASA TV schedules, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv Images of the event will be posted that afternoon on the Kennedy Media Gallery at: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov For information about Florida Power & Light and its programs, visit: http://www.fpl.com For more information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
