New Whole Foods Market(R) in San Jose to Generate Clean Power On-Site with UTC Power Fuel Cell

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, today announced that Whole Foods Market has chosen to power a new store in San Jose, Calif., with clean, reliable on-site fuel cell power.  This marks the third Whole Foods Market to install a PureCell® system provided by UTC Power.  The other stores are in Dedham, Mass., and Glastonbury, Conn.

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest energy-generation sources available in the world and meet the strictest U.S. emission standards.  Highly energy efficient and virtually pollution-free, fuel cells produce electricity, heat and water through an electrochemical process.

The new Whole Foods Market, located at the south corner of Blossom Hill Road and Almaden Expressway in South San Jose, is now under construction and will cover approximately 50,000 square feet.  The UTC Power fuel cell system will generate 90 percent of the store's electricity needs and its byproduct thermal energy will be used for store heating, cooling and refrigeration for an overall efficiency of approximately 60 percent, nearly twice the efficiency of the U.S. electrical grid.

By generating most of its power on-site with a fuel cell, the Whole Foods Market Blossom Hill, San Jose, store will prevent the release of more than 370 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually -- the equivalent of planting more than 85 acres of trees. The reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional power plant are equal to the environmental benefit of removing 92 cars from the road.

"Whole Foods Market is excited to be able to use this clean and highly efficient technology at our new San Jose store," said Kathy Loftus, Whole Foods Market global leader of sustainable engineering, maintenance and energy. "This will help reduce our impact on the environment and lessen our overall energy demands from traditional sources."

"We're proud to be associated with Whole Foods Market, a company always looking for innovative ways to do business more sustainably, and very pleased the company has chosen to fully integrate the thermal and electrical energy produced by  a UTC Power fuel cell at a third store," said Neal Montany, director of UTC Power's stationary fuel cell business.  "Businesses that need reliable power around-the-clock and that can use the fuel cell's thermal energy are well-suited for fuel cells."

UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries.  UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year since it was launched in 1999.  Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications.  For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America's first national certified organic grocer,  was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" in 2008 and was recognized as one of "America's Healthiest 100" in 2009 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 51,100 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 280 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild™, and Harry's Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP,LP.  Wild Oats® and Capers Community Market™ are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc."

SOURCE UTC Power