NextEra Energy partners with Daytona, Homestead

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway announced a multi-year partnership with NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of Florida-based FPL Group, and the nation's largest provider of wind and solar energy. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Under terms of the agreement, NextEra Energy Resources becomes the official renewable energy provider of Daytona International Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. Rights include entitlement of the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Truck Series race at Daytona and title sponsorship of Homestead-Miami Speedway's IndyCar and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series championship weekend.

NextEra Energy Resources will support its position through both a financial investment and a commitment for annual promotion around events at both facilities. Also as part of the arrangement, International Speedway Corporation, parent company of both racing facilities, will purchase certain renewable energy certificates from NextEra Energy Resources. The RECs will help fund a number of renewable energy projects, including the development of wind and solar energy plants.

"We are thrilled by the future opportunity of this unprecedented partnership," Daytona International Speedway president Robin Braig said. "Given NextEra Energy Resources's track record of generating electricity from renewable sources for more than 20 years, we now have a strong partner to help us identify future opportunities to operate more efficiently.

"This relationship is part of our broader company-wide initiative to reduce the immediate impacts from our facilities and events through broad-based recycling efforts, partnerships with local governments and agencies to identify more efficient means of operation, pursuing renewable power sources, and other significant sustainability efforts."

Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray added: "What an opportunity it is to partner with NextEra Energy Resources in promoting renewable-energy efforts to race fans and other partners at our premier venues and events throughout the state of Florida. This agreement really demonstrates the significant value our partnerships provide to corporations looking to grow their business. Our facilities annually host the most premier events on the motorsports calendar -- including the Daytona 500 and the crowning of an unprecedented six championships at Homestead-Miami in 2009 -- and in doing so draw the most passionate fans in all of sports, providing significant business-building opportunities all year long."