- Fuel cell projects represent the confluence of Energy, Environmental and Economic policies
- Highlights ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power generation's contribution to a low carbon future
DANBURY, Conn., Oct. 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a global leader in the design, manufacture, operation and service of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, hosted Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for a tour of the 15 megawatt Dominion Bridgeport fuel cell park this morning to showcase how affordable fuel cell solutions support energy policy, the environment and economic development at local, State and Federal levels. Distributed fuel cell power generation enhances the resiliency of the electric grid with low carbon power production that is virtually absent of pollutants. Fuel cell projects support economic development with domestic manufacturing, property, sales and payroll taxes and exemplify urban renewal by siting the ultra-clean power plant within a City.
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During her public remarks at the Bridgeport fuel cell park, Administrator McCarthy commented that now is the time to embrace a clean energy future and that innovative solutions such as the Bridgeport fuel cell park reflect the pathway for American energy security and ingenuity.
"I'm excited to have EPA Administrator McCarthy in Bridgeport and that our efforts to become one of the greenest cities in America are being recognized nationally," said Mayor Bill Finch. "We are home to the Bridgeport fuel cell park, which has fueled green job growth and powers up to 15,000 homes at any given time with virtually pollutant free energy."
"Dominion is pleased to have added 15 megawatts of renewable fuel-cell energy in Connecticut to our existing 2,100 megawatts of carbon-free power from our Millstone Power Station as well as five megawatts from our Somers Solar facility," said John Smatlak, Vice President of Power Generation Technical Services. "These stations are generating clean, reliable electricity for Connecticut and it was a pleasure to share that with Administrator McCarthy."
"Our fuel cell power plants are at the confluence of energy, environmental and economic policy," said Chip Bottone, President & Chief Executive Officer, FuelCell Energy, Inc. "Megawatt scale fuel cell plants are part of the portfolio to rebuild our energy infrastructure. Low carbon power generation that is virtually absent of pollutants enables siting the power plants in urban areas and the continuous distributed power generation enhances resiliency of the electric grid."
This highly efficient fuel cell park avoids the annual emission of approximately 297 tons of smog producing nitrogen oxide (NOx) and more than 67,600 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), compared to the U.S. electric grid. This carbon reduction is equivalent to removing approximately 12,900 cars from the road.
The project is located on a remediated brownfield site in an industrial area of Bridgeport, Connecticut, using only about 1 1/2 acres of land to provide 15 megawatts of continuous renewable power. The City benefits with clean distributed power generation and is receiving tax revenue from what was a vacant lot. The community benefits with ultra-clean power that is generated locally, enhancing power reliability. The State of Connecticut benefits with tax revenue from a variety of sources, job creation in the State, and progress towards the State's renewable portfolio standard.
Multi-megawatt fuel cell parks solve power generation challenges for utilities as the combination of near-zero pollutants, modest land-use needs, and the quiet operating nature of fuel cell power plants facilitates their siting in urban locations. Fuel cell parks offer a multitude of advantages for utilities and neighboring communities, including:
- Environmentally friendly power generation with virtually zero nitrogen oxide (NOx) that causes smog, sulfur dioxide (SOx) that contributes to acid rain, or particulate matter (PM10) that aggravates asthma, and the power is delivered with a low carbon footprint
- Distributed power generation places power near where it is used, enhancing the resiliency of the grid
- Highly efficient power generation process that is economical
- Continuous renewable power around the clock that is not reliant on weather or time of day
Dominion (NYSE:D) is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 23,600 megawatts of generation, 10,900 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,400 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 947 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 10 states. For more information about Dominion, visit www.dom.com.
About FuelCell Energy
Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. With more than 300 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers around the world. The Company's power plants have generated more than 2.8 billion kilowatt hours of ultra-clean power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. For more information, please visit www.fuelcellenergy.com
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