Pepperidge Farm Joins With FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Connecticut Clean Energy Fund to Dedicate the Country's Largest Fuel Cell at its Bloomfield, CT, Bakery
1.2 MW Fuel Cell furnishes major share of plant's power to bake premium breads and rolls for the Northeast
Norwalk, CT, October 15, 2008 - Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated today dedicated the new 1.2 megawatt (MW) DFC1500B� fuel cell power plant it has installed at its state-of-the-art bakery facility in Bloomfield, CT. Manufactured by FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ: FCEL), Inc., based in Danbury, CT., the fuel cell is now the biggest power source for this 260,000 square foot manufacturing facility, and represents the largest single commercial fuel cell power plant in the United States.
"This initiative reflects the strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability that is held by both Pepperidge Farm and our parent company Campbell Soup Company," said Pat Callaghan, President, Pepperidge Farm.
This fuel cell initiative is supported in part by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), a ratepayer fund administered by Connecticut Innovations Inc., which provided a grant of $3.5 million to Pepperidge Farm to offset part of the cost of construction last year.
This is the second fuel cell power plant installation at the Pepperidge Farm Bloomfield plant, which opened in 2003. A smaller, FuelCell Energy 250-kilowatt fuel cell was commissioned for the site in January 2006, also with assistance from CCEF.
On its own, the new fuel cell supplies about 57 percent of the total electrical needs for the bakery. Combined with the smaller fuel cell, this installation fulfills 70 percent of the plant's electricity needs with clean power. Both fuel cells operate 24/7 and greatly improve the reliability of electricity at the site - a key issue for a plant that operates three shifts, six days a week. Additionally, excess heat from the new fuel cell is being used to support bakery processes, which helps reduce fuel needs for plant boilers.
"Pepperidge Farm is making excellent use of all the attributes of the fuel cell," said Lise Dondy, President of CCEF. "Not only are they deriving a significant portion of their required electricity, but they are also effectively utilizing the fuel cell's thermal output to enjoy the added benefit of being able to operate with a decreased dependence on less efficient resources."
"We are pleased that Pepperidge Farm relies on DFC� fuel cells to achieve its sustainability goals," added Richard Shaw, Director Business Development for FuelCell Energy. "By using our ultra-clean, highly efficient DFC� fuel cells, Pepperidge Farm stands to significantly reduce power costs while lowering emissions and increasing power reliability."
Fuel cells produce electricity electrochemically (without combustion) with near-zero emissions of nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides and particulate matter. Because they do not combust fuel, they emit much less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuel generators. DFC fuel cells operate at 47 percent electrical efficiency so they use less fuel to produce more power, saving on energy costs. When used in combined heat and power applications, such as the Pepperidge Farm installation where the byproduct heat is used in the baking process, the overall system efficiency can be up to 80 percent.
"We are already seeing the benefits of this investment in our bakery, and it supports the clean energy goals of both our home state of Connecticut and our parent Campbell Soup," said Robert Furbee, Pepperidge Farm Senior Vice President, Operations. "It signifies not only a great business initiative but also a great partnership among Connecticut entities committed to pursuing clean, alternative energy sources for the state - Pepperidge Farm, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and FuelCell Energy, Inc."
About 60 guests attended the ceremonies at the Pepperidge Farm Bloomfield facility, including Pat Callaghan; R. Daniel Brdar, Chairman & CEO, FuelCell Energy; Lise Dondy, President, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund; Jerry Buckley, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Campbell Soup Company; and Sydney Schulman, Mayor of the Town of Bloomfield.
About Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated, based in Norwalk, Connecticut, is a leading provider of premium quality fresh bakery products, cookies, crackers, and frozen foods. Among the company's most popular products are Chocolate Chunk and Milano� cookies, Goldfish� snack crackers, and more than 50 varieties of fresh baked breads including Swirl, Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse�, and Natural Whole Grain breads. Pepperidge Farm was founded in Connecticut in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, an entrepreneurial homemaker who began baking fresh, all-natural bread for her allergy-afflicted son. The company is now a nationwide business with 8 manufacturing facilities, almost 5,000 employees, 3,500 independent distributorships, and over $1 billion in sales. Pepperidge Farm was acquired by Campbell Soup Company in 1961.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut's economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF's funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers' utility bills. For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.
About Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies; university/industry research collaborations; technology transfer; and, clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI's mission. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com.
About FuelCell Energy Inc.
FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers. FuelCell Energy's ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC� fuel cells are generating power at over 45 locations worldwide. The company's power plants have generated more than 230 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers, trading companies and power companies around the world. The company also receives funding from the US Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as hybrid fuel cell/turbine generators and solid oxide fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com.
Contact:
Nan Redmond
Communications Director
Pepperidge Farm, Incorporated
(203) 846-7395