JUNO BEACH, Fla., April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. and its subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Co., today joined The Scripps Research Institute, one of America's most respected non-profit research organizations, and its Scripps Florida division to announce a cutting-edge collaboration focused on finding creative solutions for the next generation of clean energy.

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The innovative multi-year partnership will combine the partners' collective expertise to address three key challenges of the energy sector:

• Improving the economic viability of large-scale clean energy expansions;
• Increasing the output of next-generation renewable energy technologies; and
• Enhancing the efficiency and storage capabilities of the nation's electric grid.

"Energy independence is critical for the future of our economy, security and environment – for Florida and the nation as a whole. To compete in the rapidly growing renewable energy economy and secure a clean energy future, this partnership will tackle the energy challenges of tomorrow by advancing clean energy research today," said NextEra Energy President and COO Jim Robo. "We are fortunate to have such a renowned research facility in our backyard, and our synergy is powerful."

"We are delighted to participate in this partnership, which advances the knowledge-based economy in the state," said Harry Orf, vice president for scientific operations at Scripps Florida. "These kinds of collaborations are critical to the economic future of Florida."

Scientists from Scripps Florida and local leaders joined representatives from NextEra Energy and FPL today to tour the roof of their Juno Beach headquarters, where employees have conducted solar power technology research since 2008. Currently, the rooftop-based Next Generation Clean Energy Living Lab I is testing five commercially available solar technologies. The new partnership will extend this research by utilizing space at Scripps Florida headquarters in nearby Jupiter, Fla., to create the Next Generation Clean Energy Living Lab II.

Also at the Jupiter campus, NextEra and FPL energy experts will work with Scripps Energy & Materials Center scientists, who seek to address the challenges of sustainability and energy security with fundamentally new chemistry that will lead to next-generation technologies.

"The Scripps Energy & Materials Center is bringing together the world's brightest scientific minds in the dynamic atmosphere and world-class facilities at Scripps Florida," said Scripps Research Professor Roy Periana, who directs the program. "The partnership between NextEra and Scripps is an important endorsement of our energy research and will play an important role in helping us expand the program through philanthropy, government funding and additional corporate collaborations."

In addition, the partnership will include educational programs, which will expand on the organizations' ongoing commitment to strengthening youth in the local community. In recent years, FPL has installed working solar power arrays at 10 Florida schools and has provided grants and science curricula for Florida school teachers to use to engage young people in learning about a clean energy future.

The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world's largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and vaccine development, as well as for its insights into autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious disease. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, the institute also includes a campus in Jupiter, Florida, where scientists focus on drug discovery and technology development in addition to basic biomedical science. Scripps Research currently employs about 3,000 scientists, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on its two campuses. The institute's graduate program, which awards Ph.D. degrees in biology and chemistry, is ranked among the top ten such programs in the nation. For more information about the institute, see www.scripps.edu. For more information about the Scripps Energy & Materials Center, see http://www.scripps.edu/periana/semc/.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company with 2010 revenues of more than $15 billion, nearly 43,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and approximately 15,000 employees in 28 states and Canada. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., NextEra Energy's principal subsidiaries are NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which together with its affiliated entities is the largest generator in North America of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and Florida Power & Light Company, which serves approximately 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the country. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy collectively operates the third largest U.S. nuclear power generation fleet. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com, www.FPL.com.

Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company is the largest electric utility in Florida and one of the largest rate-regulated utilities in the United States. FPL serves 4.5 million customer accounts in Florida and is a leading employer in the state with approximately 10,000 employees. The company consistently outperforms national averages for service reliability while customer bills are below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.

SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.