BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Officials from Dominion, one of the nation’s largest energy companies, and FuelCell Energy Inc. have broken ground at what is believed to be the largest fuel cell power project in North America.

Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell will produce 14.9 megawatts of clean energy — enough to power approximately 15,000 homes — using an electrochemical process designed to efficiently convert natural gas into electricity.

“This power station will generate clean, reliable, base load electricity for Connecticut,” said David A. Christian, Dominion Generation chief executive officer. “Our clean energy portfolio today includes wind, hydro, biomass, and, soon, solar and this facility when it begins operating later this year. Along with electricity, this project supports Connecticut’s clean energy goals while producing significant economic development benefits for the state and the city of Bridgeport.”

Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell is part of Project 150, a program sponsored by the state and supported by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) to increase renewable and clean energy projects in Connecticut by 150 megawatts. CEFIA leverages public and private funds to drive investment and scale up clean energy deployment in Connecticut. This project was supported by the city of Bridgeport, which provides a tax incentive development agreement that will be in place for the life of the project.

FuelCell Energy will build, operate, and maintain the facility under contract to Dominion. The company is supplying five Direct FuelCell® stationary fuel cell power plants and an organic Rankine turbine that will convert heat from the fuel cells into additional electricity.

FuelCell Energy has expanded its Connecticut manufacturing workforce by more than 20 percent or more than 50 jobs in the past six months, reflecting demand such as this Bridgeport fuel cell park. The project is scheduled to be completed and placed into operation in late 2013. Dominion will sell the output of the fuel cell power station to Connecticut Light & Power under a 15-year fixed power purchase agreement.

For more information about Dominion, visit www.dom.com. For more information about FuelCell Energy, visit www.fuelcellenergy.com.

Publication date: 5/20/2013

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