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    1. Rail
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    Brightline goes carbon neutral for February in partnership with Florida Power & Light Company

    Feb. 4, 2020
    With a partnership with FPL, Brightline’s carbon emissions will be offset with renewable energy credits for the month of February.
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    Brightline’s five-train fleet is running carbon neutral for the month of February thanks to a partnership with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), which will allow all Brightline carbon emissions to be offset with renewable energy credits (RECs). 

    To celebrate this carbon-free month milestone, which began Super Bowl LIV weekend, FPL has wrapped a Brightline train to illustrate the joint commitment to green initiatives. 

    “Traveling by train is an easy way to be a steward of the environment as it simply takes cars off the road,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “With over 150,000 out-of-state visitors for the Super Bowl, added to Florida's most congested region, Brightline and FPL are proud to eliminate our carbon footprint for February and reduce congestion.” 

    From its inception, Brightline says it has been committed to implementing green initiatives across the company, and through its strategic partnership with FPL, its trains are fueled by clean biodiesel in south Florida. Further, Brightline says its train sets meet the highest emissions standards, Tier 4, set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each trainset is powered by Siemens Charger locomotives equipped with a projected consumption of two gallons of fuel per mile. The Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach Brightline stations feature FPL SolarNow trees, and a solar canopy is planned for Virgin MiamiCentral station that will generate clean, renewable energy for the grid and shade for guests. Additionally, Electric Vehicle charging stations are also available at all Brightline station garages. 

    “Given our shared commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient state, FPL's ongoing partnership with Brightline is a no-brainer and a big win for south Florida,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “Football fans from across the country and from around the world will be some of the first to enjoy carbon-free rides to and from downtown Miami. Along with FPL's bold plan to install 30 million solar panels by 2030 and numerous other innovative projects, this is yet another way to showcase to the world that Florida is at the forefront of advancing affordable clean energy now and for the future.” 

    From Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, FPL hosted a Solar Football Activation in the Smart Lounge of Virgin MiamiCentral. Travelers were invited to throw a football in the FPL Solar Field for a chance to win prizes. 

    Brightline, soon to be Virgin Trains, is planning its expansion to connect Las Vegas to Southern California and will feature all-electric train sets.  Construction is slated to begin later this year.