NextEra Energy recognized by Fortune among top 25 companies that 'Change the World'

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Aug 20, 2018, 14:48 ET

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Aug. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced that Fortune has ranked the company No. 21 among the top 57 companies globally that "Change the World." The annual list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy. NextEra Energy is the only energy company from the Americas named to the 2018 list and one of only two electric companies in the world to be included.

"We're extremely pleased to be recognized by Fortune as a company that is changing our world for the better, particularly for our significant investments in solar and wind energy," said Jim Robo, chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy. "At NextEra Energy, we firmly believe that we have an unprecedented opportunity to shape how energy is produced and delivered. By investing in smart infrastructure and innovative clean energy solutions, we're helping build a sustainable energy future that is affordable, efficient and clean, while at the same time creating tens of thousands of jobs and generating economic benefits for the communities we serve. Our employees are deeply committed to doing well by doing good, and that means focusing on continuous improvement and innovation, respecting our environment, providing value for our customers, sustaining our communities, investing in our team and growing shareholder value."

This is the first year NextEra Energy has been recognized on Fortune's "Change the World" list. Fortune evaluates and ranks companies on measurable social impact, business results, degree of innovation and corporate integration. NextEra Energy, whose principal subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and NextEra Energy Resources, was recognized by Fortune for being an industry leader in renewable energy.

Already one of the cleanest electric utilities in the nation, FPL is in the midst of one of the largest solar expansions in the world. Today, FPL operates 14 major solar energy centers and more than 200 smaller solar installations totaling more than 935 megawatts (MW), while it continues to keep its customer bills among the lowest in America. The company recently announced the start of construction on its four newest solar energy centers, representing nearly 300 additional MW of solar capacity that will be operational by early 2019. FPL is on track to have approximately 10 million solar panels in operation by 2022. In addition, earlier this year, FPL completed the largest solar-plus-storage system built in the U.S. to date – augmenting the 74.5-MW FPL Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center with a 10-MW/40-MWh battery.

NextEra Energy Resources is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. The company was a pioneer in the field, making its first investment in renewable energy nearly 30 years ago. Today, NextEra Energy Resources owns and operates more than 14,000 MW of wind energy with more than 120 facilities across North America. NextEra Energy Resources also operates approximately 30 universal solar projects in the U.S. In addition, NextEra Energy Resources is uniquely positioned for the next phase of renewables deployment that pairs low-cost wind and solar energy with a low-cost battery storage solution that can be dispatched with enough certainty to meet customer need for firm generation.

In addition to its leadership in renewable energy, Fortune praised NextEra Energy for recently striking the largest solar panel supply deal in history with JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: JKS). Under the agreement, JinkoSolar will supply NextEra Energy with up to 2,750 MW of high-efficiency solar modules – roughly 7 million solar panels – over approximately four years.

NextEra Energy also has a strong commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. Over the past decade, FPL has invested more than $3 billion to build one of the world's strongest and smartest energy grids, including having installed approximately 5 million smart meters and more than 90,000 other intelligent devices to help monitor and manage the electric system. FPL, which provides power to more than half the state of Florida, also is a leader in using high-tech drones and is experimenting with augmented and virtual reality to search for damage and speed restoration after severe weather strikes.

The "Change the World" honor is the latest recognition for the company. Earlier this year, NextEra Energy was named No. 1 in its sector on Fortune's list of "Most Admired Companies" for the 11th time in 12 years and also ranked among the top 20 companies worldwide for innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility and long-term investment value. NextEra Energy was also recognized by Ethisphere Institute as one of its 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies, becoming one of only 20 companies in the world to have achieved this honor 11 or more times. NextEra Energy was also recognized by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers and one of America's Best Employers for Diversity, as well as recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve with the Above and Beyond Award.

View the complete results for Fortune's 2018 list of companies that "Change the World."

NextEra Energy, Inc.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company with consolidated revenues of approximately $17.2 billion, operates approximately 46,790 megawatts of net generating capacity and employs approximately 14,000 people in 33 states and Canada as of year-end 2017. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy's principal subsidiaries are Florida Power & Light Company, which serves approximately 5 million customer accounts in Florida and is one of the largest rate-regulated electric utilities in the United States, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from eight commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2018 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.