Bloom Energy breaks ground on new Manufacturing Center in Delaware, and announces new customers leading the way in energy innovation

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bloom Energy®, a provider of clean, reliable, affordable power, today broke ground on a new Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center in Newark, Delaware. Located on the 272-acre site formerly occupied by a Chrysler assembly plant, and now owned by the University of Delaware, the Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center is expected to bring hundreds of 21st century manufacturing jobs to the region. "Choosing a location for the facility that we are here to celebrate today was a very big decision for us," said KR Sridhar, Principal Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bloom Energy.  Sridhar said Delaware's business-friendly climate and the overwhelming support of Governor Markell, the Delaware General Assembly and other state officials played a huge role in Bloom selecting the state as the site for its expansion.  "Once the Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center is completed, we will double Bloom Energy's production capacity," he added. "Delaware complements our California roots and strategically positions us to better serve our expanding customer base."

New Customers

At today's groundbreaking for the Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center, Sridhar announced Bloom's new customers, which include Owens Corning, Urban Outfitters, Delmarva Power, Washington Gas and AT&T, which already uses Bloom Energy Servers at its California facilities. They join Fortune 500 companies such as Google, eBay, Wal-Mart, Staples and Coca-Cola that have already installed Bloom Energy Servers– or "Bloom Boxes" to generate clean power. Bloom Boxes use revolutionary solid oxide fuel cell technology that converts fuel to electricity using an electrochemical reaction, rather than combustion.  As a result, customers can greatly reduce their carbon footprint while also cutting operating costs.

Bloom Becomes Bi-Coastal 

While praising Delaware's strategic location and business-friendly environment, Sridhar stressed that Bloom Energy will continue to be headquartered in California, and will continue to manufacture Bloom Boxes at its growing Sunnyvale, California plant, where more than 1000 jobs have been created. "We are very pleased to be contributing in our own modest way to the continued leadership in innovation in this country, but perhaps even more importantly today, to marrying that innovation to creating manufacturing jobs in the United States," said Sridhar.

"This factory should give hundreds of new employees a chance to put their energy into manufacturing products that will power homes and businesses across the east coast.  It will combine the legacy of quality construction that marked the site for decades under Chrysler with a new legacy of research and innovation that will emerge from the University's new Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus.  Some of the nation's largest companies have turned to Bloom to serve their energy needs. We're excited to see Bloom turning to Delaware to build those servers," said Governor Jack Markell. "From our federal delegation, to the leadership of the Delaware General Assembly, to our institutions of higher education, and Delaware's talented and creative workforce, we came together to make the case to Bloom that Delaware is one of the best places in the country to build a business and raise a family. "

"We're thrilled to welcome Bloom Energy to UD's Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus," said University of Delaware President Patrick Harker. "From the beginning, we've envisioned this campus as a place where the most creative minds in academia and industry come together to solve the world's most urgent problems. This vision is being actualized today. We look forward to engaging with Bloom in innovative research, academic and community partnerships -- partnerships that benefit the state and its people and revolutionize America's clean energy future."

Delaware's congressional delegation also welcomed the Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center.  "I am delighted that Bloom Energy will bring a facility to Delaware and help grow our manufacturing base in the United States," said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) "In addition to providing Delawareans with reliable, clean energy, Bloom Energy will provide much-needed jobs in manufacturing which will help lead us further out of this recession.  I've been working with Governor Markell to bring this innovative company here, and I'm proud that our hard work has paid off.  I want to congratulate the Governor and his economic development team, Gary Stockbridge at Delmarva Power and Pat Harker at the University of Delaware, for their leadership in creating this innovative partnership."

"When we think about the threads that will keep America competitive in the global economy for the next generation, we think of innovation, entrepreneurship, clean energy and manufacturing – and all of those are coming together today here in Delaware," said Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.). "In building its East Coast facility here in Newark, Bloom isn't just investing in its own cutting-edge technology — Bloom is investing in Delaware's communities, our families, and our future. This is a wonderful day for Delaware, and is a day made possible because of what Delaware brings to the table: a talented workforce, a welcoming business climate, and the tremendous leadership of folks like Governor Markell, Secretary O'Mara and DEDO Director Levin. I am proud to welcome Bloom Energy to Delaware today, and look forward to a long, fruitful relationship."

"I'm excited that Bloom Energy is entering its next phase here in Delaware," said U.S. Rep. John Carney (D-Del).  "We need to make things in America again.  Bloom Energy is a great example of using new energy technology to do that, while creating jobs for Delaware workers.  This new facility will not only strengthen Delaware's economy, it will provide another source of clean energy that protects the environment.  With the former Chrysler site being transformed into a center for science, technology, and innovation, this is the kind of opportunity that many of us envisioned for our state."

The Bloom Energy Manufacturing Center will become the anchor tenant of the new University of Delaware Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus.  Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2013, with manufacturing set to begin shortly afterwards.

About Bloom Energy

Bloom Energy is a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology generating clean, highly-efficient onsite power from multiple fuel sources. Founded in 2001 with a mission to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world, Bloom Energy Servers are currently producing power for several Fortune 500 companies including Google, Wal-Mart, AT&T, eBay, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, as well as notable non-profit organizations such as Caltech, and Kaiser Permanente. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. For more information, visit www.Bloomenergy.com.

SOURCE Bloom Energy