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Three-Day World Energy Engineering Congress Goes Pollution-Free With Emissions Credit Donation By FuelCell Energy

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 May 2006, 09:02 CDT

Leonardo Academy Certifies Annual Meeting of the Association of Energy Engineers as 'Cleaner and Greener' by Offsetting Event's Pollution with FuelCell Energy's Emissions Credits

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NasdaqNM:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of efficient electric power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, today announced it donated enough emissions credits to offset the environmental impact caused by a three-day global energy conference in Washington, D.C. By contributing more than 2,600 megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates accumulated in operating its ultra-clean Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plants, the company enabled Leonardo Academy to certify the 2006 World Energy Engineering Congress a Cleaner and Greener(SM) program.

Green electricity produced by FuelCell Energy's highly efficient power plants counterbalances the pollution that would be created in generating the same amount of electricity by traditional means to power the show. Donated credits will offset over 5,900 pounds of sulfur dioxide (SO2); 3,800 pounds of nitrogen oxides (NOx); 147 pounds of particulates (PM10 and PM2.5); over 300 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2); and more than 70,000 times the mercury (Hg) pollution to be discharged into the atmosphere from energy related to the conference, including utilities, travel, meals, lodging and other show-connected activities.

"In our conference, we challenge businesses large and small to improve their energy efficiency and enhance the environment," said Albert Thumann, P.E., CEM, Executive Director of the Association of Energy Engineers, sponsors of the WEEC. "FuelCell Energy's emissions credits, and Leonardo Academy's certification, allow us to give back to the community by decreasing our own carbon footprint."

Emissions reduction credits (ERCs) are created through the use of cleaner fuels, highly efficient power generation systems and increased application of renewable energy sources -- thus offsetting pollution created by power generation elsewhere. Some experts predict ERC trading can help foster development of cleaner, more efficient technologies by creating a market for the credits.

ERCs also may be "retired," meaning they no longer may be bought or sold. Removal of such credits from the market in effect reduces the amount of pollution discharged into the atmosphere by halting their ability to be used further as offsets. FuelCell Energy's donated ERCs are being permanently retired.

"We are pleased the Association of Energy Engineers and Leonardo Academy recognize the environmental value of our ultra-clean DFC products," said R. Daniel Brdar, President and CEO of FuelCell Energy. "In making WEEC 'Cleaner and Greener' for the first time, we highlight another way DFC power plants can reduce emissions and participate in emerging RPS markets."

Energy use and emission estimates to determine the number of credits required to certify the WEEC (at the Washington Convention Center Sept. 13-15) were prepared by Leonardo Academy. Descriptions are available at www.cleanerandgreener.org/eventcertification/certifiedevents.htm.

"I commend the World Energy Engineering Congress and FuelCell Energy for their commitment to increasing sustainability and renewable energy," said Michael Arny, President of Leonardo Academy "I'm proud our certification serves as an example of this kind of environmental stewardship."

About AEE and WEEC

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), a global non-profit membership organization, is presenting the 29th World Energy Engineering Congress. AEE's 9,000 members span the entire energy marketplace including Fortune 1000 companies, major commercial, industrial and institutional end users, government energy and facilities managers, utility and energy service professionals, as well as Certified Energy Managers. The World Energy Engineering Congress is one of North America's largest energy efficiency conferences and trades shows and encompasses a 200 plus speaker conference program, technical seminars, workshops, facility tours and technology solutions exposition. Information on AEE, its membership and seminars may be explored at: http://www.aeecenter.org. Information on the WEEC conference & exposition: http://www.energycongress.com.

About Leonardo Academy

Leonardo Academy Inc. (www.leonardoacademy.org) is a charitable 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to finding integrated solutions for a more sustainable world. Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener Program develops and delivers tools that promote, facilitate and measure environmental sustainability. The program specializes in developing action plans and resources, and evaluation systems that enable organizations, institutions and individuals to reduce their impacts on the natural environment.

About FuelCell Energy

FuelCell Energy develops and markets ultra-clean power plants that generate electricity with higher efficiency than distributed generation plants of similar size and with virtually no air pollution. Fuel cells produce base load electricity giving commercial and industrial customers greater control over their power generation economics, reliability and emissions. Emerging state, federal and international regulations to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions consider fuel cell power plants in the same environmentally friendly category as wind and solar energy sources -- with the added advantages of running 24 hours a day and the capacity to be installed where wind turbines or solar panels often cannot. Headquartered in Danbury, Conn., FuelCell Energy services over 40 power plant sites around the globe that have generated more than 94 million kilowatt hours, and conducts R&D on next-generation fuel cell technologies to meet the world's ever-increasing demand for ultra-clean distributed energy. For more information on the company, its products and its worldwide commercial distribution alliances, please see www.fuelcellenergy.com.

Direct FuelCell, DFC and DFC/Turbine are registered trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The Company's sub-megawatt DFC fuel cell power plant is a collaborative effort combining its Direct FuelCell technology with a Hot Module(R) balance of plant design from MTU CFC Solutions, GmbH.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the development and commercialization of its fuel cell technology. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risk that commercial field trials of the Company's products will not occur when anticipated, general risks associated with product development, manufacturing, changes in the utility regulatory environment, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid technological change, and competition, as well as other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Source: Business Wire

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