January 26, 2001

Fuel cell project will cost $20.5M

RENTON -- With no end to soaring energy costs in sight, King County is expecting big energy and environmental dividends from a fuel cell demonstration project that will turn methane gas from sewage into power to run the South Wastewater Treatment Plant.

King County entered into a cooperative agreement with FuelCell Energy Inc. Wednesday to install a one-megawatt, high-temperature fuel power cell power plant at the county's wastewater treatment facility in Renton. The total value of the contract is nearly $20.5 million.

The field trial is expected to showcase the technology's ability to use a renewable fuel source while controlling air emissions.

The cost for the two-year demonstration project is being shared by King County and FuelCell Energy through a cooperative grant to the county from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Operations are expected to begin during the third quarter of 2002.

FuelCell Energy, based in Danbury, Conn., was selected for the project through a competitive process last July.

A typical daily power bill at the plant is $7,000, but the recent spike in rates bumped the power bill to as much as $137,000 when costs reached a peak in early December.

The county has responded by taking aggressive steps to reduce outside energy use, including the use of three diesel-burning power generators, said King County Executive Ron Sims.

A high-temperature fuel cell power plant could play a key part in reducing the county's dependency on outside power sources.