FuelCellsWorks

LATHAM, N.Y.– Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, announced today that Whole Foods Market, the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket, will be using 61 GenDrive(TM) fuel cell-powered forklifts in its Landover, Maryland distribution center in 2010. Whole Foods Market is partnering with Plug Power and GENCO Supply Chain Solutions, North America’s second largest third party logistics provider, to complete this installation. The funding for the fuel cells is part of a $6.1 million award made to GENCO in April of 2009 by the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Alliance Material Handling, a Maryland-based Crown lift truck supplier, will supply the fork lifts for this site. The fleet will consist of 45 class-3 pallet jack and 16 class-2 standup reach trucks, all powered by GenDrive fuel cells. The decision to move from lead-acid batteries was facilitated by the opportunity to improve the Company’s productivity in their Maryland operations, while also achieving environmental and economic benefits.

Joe Strong, Facility Team Leader at Whole Foods, states, “Whole Foods Market is committed to healthy food and a healthy planet. We are fulfilling that commitment by choosing to use greener technology in our own operations that will improve our productivity and lower our long-term costs.”

While GenDrive fuel cell units provide customers with increased economic value through productivity increases, they also allow customers to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the use and charging of lead-acid batteries used in material handling equipment. Conversion to GenDrive fuel cell power units and green hydrogen can reduce material handling fleet GHG emissions up to 80% on-site which is roughly the equivalent of removing two passenger vehicles from the road per year for each forklift truck powered by fuel cells.

“Whole Foods Market is a company whose core values strongly align with Plug Power’s. We are excited to be supplying fuel cells to a company that is fulfilling their mission through the purchase of GenDrive as a clean energy alternative,” said Tom Hoying, Vice President of Sales for Plug Power.

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive and continuous power products. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.

IdaTech’s German Partner, b+w Electronic Systems, Supplies Fuel Cell Systems to United States Army

BEND, ORE., USA– IdaTech is a global leader in the development and manufacture of clean and reliable extended run backup power fuel cell products for telecommunications applications.

IdaTech’s German OEM partner, b+w Electronic Systems, has successfully delivered 22 ElectraGenTM fuel cell systems to the United States Army in support of the Infrastructure Modernization (IMOD) program. The IMOD program supports the upgrade and modernization of enterprise enabled voice and data networks worldwide for the United States Army.

The first ten ElectraGenTM systems were successfully installed on 14 September 2009 in Grafenwoehr, Germany and the additional 12 systems have been scheduled for deployment to US military sites throughout Germany before the end of 2009.

Telecommunications networks, including military networks, require reliable backup power solutions which can operate for several hours or days when electricity is no longer available due to severe weather, natural disasters, or poor grid quality.

IdaTech’s ElectraGen^TM fuel cell system was developed specifically to provide critical backup power to the telecom market when loss of grid occurs. ElectraGen^TM products can be powered by hydrogen gas or by IdaTech’s proprietary fuel reformer system which converts liquid fuel into high-purity hydrogen onsite as needed. The ElectraGen^TM provides 24 or 48 VDC backup power for telecommunications applications and is a replacement for traditional solutions such as batteries and diesel generators, but with greater reliability and significantly reduced maintenance.

Commenting on the delivery, Hal Koyama, Chief Executive Officer of IdaTech, said: “This is an exciting milestone for IdaTech and demonstrates our growth in the German fuel cell market.” Dirk Weniger, Business Unit Manager at b+W Electronic Systems commented, “The 22 unit installation is the largest fuel cell install by b+W and confirms our commitment in fuel cell technology.”

SANTA ROSA — Sonoma County will break ground for the installation of a 1.4 megawatt fuel cell on Tuesday.

The fuel cell, which will provide electricity for the county’s main complex of buildings in Santa Rosa, is the centerpiece of Sonoma County’s comprehensive energy plan, which will both lower greenhouse gas emissions and save a substantial amount of money over the life of the project.

The fuel cell, built by FuelCell Energy Inc. of Connecticut and installed by AirCon Energy of Sacramento, will cost about $9 million, or 40 percent of the $22 million for the overall project. It combines natural gas with oxygen to product energy.

The fuel cell produces power more cleanly than standard natural gas generation, and the excess heat that is produced will be used to heat water and run absorption chillers for additional energy savings. The overall energy plan is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4,000 tons per year, and will save the county between $40 million and $50 million over the course of 25 years.

According to county public information officer Jim Toomey, other improvement to be made in months to come include lighting retrofits in 20 buildings, HVAC replacement in five buildings and water conservation measures in administration and detention facilities.

“The jail is a huge consumer of energy, running 24-7,” he said. “Any improvements we make there give us a lot of bang for the buck.

The fuel cell groundbreaking will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 1:00 p.m. at 2680 Ventura Avenue in Santa Rosa.

A new hydrogen fuel cell being tested in Brotton, North Yorkshire, could help homeowners access cheap energy prices, reports the Evening Gazette.

The Technology Strategy Board has provided £170,000 to fund the test being run by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) in a 1930s-built semi-detached property that aims to reduce energy bills be several hundred pounds and cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent.

If the test proves successful, the fuel cell could be produced in the Tees Valley and stimulate the local economy through the creation of manufacturing and installation jobs.

Mark Freeman, sustainability officer for housing association Coast And Country, which is working on the project with the CPI, told the paper: “We are already trialling various green energy systems to find the best value for our residents, reduce fuel poverty and cut carbon. Our ideal would be having no fuel-poor tenants.”

The government plans to spend nearly £10 billion rolling out smart meters over the next decade, which could help reduce both domestic and business energy costs.