Stop & Shop Installs Bloom Energy Fuel Cell in Mt. Vernon, New York Supermarket

PURCHASE, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC, a division of Ahold USA, announced today that a Bloom Energy fuel cell will power the company's Mt. Vernon, New York store. The 250 kW system at Stop & Shop in Mt. Vernon will generate more than 2 million kWh each year, resulting in carbon reductions of more than 700,000 lbs. of CO₂ annually.

Bloom Energy's solid oxide fuel cell converts fuel into electricity through a highly efficient electrochemical process, instead of combustion, to provide on-site, clean and reliable power.  These fuel cell projects are the latest addition to Stop & Shop's clean and renewable energy portfolio that also includes solar panel systems on the roofs on 38 of its stores, capable of generating 9.5M kWh each year.  As part of its Better Neighbor Promise to care for the environment, Stop & Shop has a goal to reduce its carbon footprint by 20% by 2015 using 2008 as a baseline. This project supports the company's carbon reduction goals and continues to deliver electricity even through grid outages, like those experienced in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Stop & Shop is also committed to building energy efficient and sustainable stores.  It has a goal to reach Zero waste by the year 2020.  This means that at least 90% of the waste generated by its stores will be diverted from landfills.

"Stop & Shop has invested heavily in energy conservation, green building and alternative energy projects," said Don Sussman, president of Stop & Shop New York Metro division. "This project in the New York metro area will contribute to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact of our operations on our communities. It will also increase the resiliency of our stores and enable us to serve our customers during grid interruptions."

"This project represents the leading edge of distributed generation, a new power generation solution that is both sustainable and resilient," said Charles Fox, Director, East Coast Business Development at Bloom Energy. "Bloom Energy is excited to be a part of Stop & Shop's growing clean energy portfolio."

Support for this project was provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

For more information on Stop & Shop's company-wide Recycling and Environment initiatives, visit www.stopandshop.com.

Note to Editor: Emission estimates based on USA EPA eGRID

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC employs approximately 59,000 associates and operates 395 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. The company helps support local communities fight hunger, combat childhood cancer and promote general health and wellness - with emphasis on children's educational and support programs. In its commitment to be a sustainable company, Stop & Shop is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and EPA's Smart Way program; has been awarded LEED (NC) certifications for 15 of its new stores; and has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores. Stop & Shop is an Ahold company. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit www.stopandshop.com and www.facebook.com/stopandshop.

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SOURCE The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC