News

PPL Completes Zoot Enterprises Fuel Cell Installation

August 28, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

The distributed generation and energy services subsidiary of PPL Corp. (Allentown, PA) has completed the development and installation of two 250kW fuel cell systems, which use natural gas for fuel and produce electric power and hot water for heating and domestic uses, for Zoot Enterprises' high-technology campus located eight miles west of Bozeman, MT. The total value of the Zoot fuel cell project is $3.8 million, with $1.4 million provided in the form of a grant from the US Department of Energy. FuelCell Energy Inc. (Danbury, CT) manufactured the fuel cells.

The campus, which ultimately is expected to include 14 commercial lots, is the site of Zoot's recently completed 155,000ft² headquarters building, which will house 410 employees at full capacity, including an electronic data processing center that performs the company's core business functions. Zoot is using the fuel cell power plant system in conjunction with the electric grid to meet the primary electrical requirements of its building and to support future development at the campus.