The Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center privately released Solana, a rehabilitated sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle named by Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) employees, off Juno Beach on Tuesday, April 3.
Headquartered just two miles from Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), FPL has dedicated its support to further LMC’s mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation for more than three decades.
The name Solana, which means “sunshine” in Spanish, is fitting since FPL is one of the cleanest utilities in America and its parent company, NextEra Energy, Inc., is the world’s largest provider of renewable energy from the sun and wind.
Earlier this year, the company completed the FPL Loggerhead Solar Energy Center in St. Lucie County, part of one of the largest solar expansions in the U.S.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Florida Power & Light,” said Jack E. Lighton, LMC president & CEO. “FPL is a magnificent community partner committed to ocean conservation and our mission. The name ‘Solana’ is appropriate, as FPL is a clean, renewable energy leader. We were honored that the FPL Loggerhead Solar Energy Centerpays homage to the loggerhead sea turtle. To have the solar power plant bearing this name is emblematic of the company’s approach to environmental stewardship. Our team of staff, volunteers and supporters thank FPL for its generous support, especially as we embark on the Center’s exciting next chapter.”
Last year, FPL announced its generous $1 million donation toward Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign. Additionally, the outdoor FPL Sea Turtle Hospital Yard at Loggerhead Marinelife Center houses the Center’s sea turtle patients. In addition, FPL employees donate their free time to volunteer at the Center alongside staff and other community volunteers.
“As a clean-energy company, we are committed and dedicated to doing our part for the place we all call home to make Florida a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said Mike Sole, a marine biologist and vice president of environmental services for NextEra Energy. “The team at LMC is passionate about taking every opportunity to save and protect these treasured creatures, and Solana’s release back into the ocean highlights the organization’s continued success as an environmental champion.”
Solana was covered in leeches and barnacles when FPL biologists rescued her. Initial bloodwork showed anemia and poor health from starvation, so LMC’s hospital staff administered fluids, antibiotics and vitamins. Solana was also given parenteral nutrition intravenously as part of the turtle’s treatment plan.
The administration of parenteral nutrition to sea turtles was perfected by Dr. Charles A. Manire, LMC’s staff veterinarian. The formula, which contains critical molecular building blocks needed to sustain life, has saved hundreds of the Sea Turtle Hospital’s patients that otherwise would not have survived. The revolutionary treatment method is also being used on endangered penguins in South America as a result of Dr. Manire’s success with sea turtles.
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Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 25 percent lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International for the fourth consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2017 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a nonprofit sea turtle hospital that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center features an on-site campus hospital, research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. In late 2017, the Center launched their Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete, the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more information, visit marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.