New Whole Foods Market® in Fairfield, Conn., to Generate Clean Power On-Site with PureCell® System Model 400 from UTC Power
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Store will be the fourth Whole Foods Market to generate majority of its power with a fuel cell from UTC Power
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. - UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, today announced that Whole Foods Market has selected UTC Power's PureCell System Model 400 to provide clean, reliable on-site power to a new store in Fairfield, Conn. The 400 kilowatt (kW) UTC Power fuel cell system will generate 90 percent of the store's electricity needs, and its byproduct thermal energy will be used for store heating, cooling and refrigeration. This marks the second Whole Foods Market in Connecticut and the fourth Whole Foods Market in the United States to install a UTC Power fuel cell.
"In connection to our company's green mission, we are very proud to be reducing our carbon footprint while producing clean energy in our new Fairfield, Connecticut location," said Tristam Coffin, green mission specialist for Whole Foods Market's Northeast region. "UTC Power has been a great local partner in implementing our fuel cell to help us reduce our environmental impact in the Fairfield community."
The UTC Power fuel cell installed at the Fairfield, Conn., store will be supported with a grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) through its On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program.
"This fuel cell project demonstrates Whole Foods Market's continued commitment to sustainability by using smarter and more efficient sources of energy in our local communities," said Bryan Garcia, president of CCEF. "Because supermarkets consume a lot of heat and electricity, they provide a great application for UTC Power's fuel cells. By utilizing both the thermal and power attributes of fuel cells, energy is used more efficiently and therefore contributes to the bottom line of the company."
By generating most of its power on-site with a fuel cell, the Whole Foods Market Fairfield, Conn., store will prevent the release of more than 847 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually - the equivalent of planting more than 85 acres of trees. The reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional power plant are equal to the environmental benefit of removing more than 100 cars from the road. In addition to the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the PureCell System will allow Whole Foods Market to save nearly 3.5 million gallons of water annually. Unlike central generation and other fuel cell technologies, the PureCell System is designed to operate in water balance so there is no consumption or discharge of water during its operation.
"UTC Power is proud of our ongoing relationship with Whole Foods Market and we are excited that the company has decided to install our next-generation Model 400 at a new store in UTC Power's home state of Connecticut," said Neal Montany, director of UTC Power's stationary fuel cell business. "It is truly rewarding to have Whole Foods Market as a repeat customer and to know our fuel cell technology is fulfilling our customer's energy needs and helping them achieve their sustainability goals."
UTC Power's stationary fuel cell, the PureCell® System, is a combined heat and power system that represents a game-changing technology. Compared to typical central generation and other fuel cell offerings, the PureCell System offers customers lower energy costs, reduced emissions, an industry-leading 90 percent system efficiency, 10-year cell stack durability and 20-year product life. No other stationary fuel cell product in the field today can offer the same range of benefits as the PureCell System.
The 400 kilowatt fuel cell in Fairfield, Conn., joins a growing fleet of PureCell® Systems powering Whole Foods Market stores. A 200-kilowatt UTC Power fuel cell has powered a Whole Foods Market store in Glastonbury, Conn., since March 2008 and the company's 400-kilowatt fuel cell is providing electricity, heat and hot water for stores in Dedham, Mass., and San Jose, Calif.
About UTC Power
UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries. UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year since it was launched in 1999. Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM) is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"(TM) captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company's nearly 60,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has more than 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Contact: Michael Sinatra
Phone: 551-574-8031
Michael.Sinatra@wholefoods.com
Contact: Annie Donnelly
Phone: 860-726-8299
Annie.Donnelly@utcpower.com
SOURCE UTC Power
Web Site: www.utc.com
