PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, and Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) today are presenting a fuel cell case study during the 2009 Food Marketing Institute's Energy & Technical Services Conference at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif. UTC Power provides fuel cells for Whole Foods Market, Price Chopper and Shaw's Star Market stores.

Whole Foods Market has chosen to power two of its New England stores with UTC Power fuel cells. A 200-kilowatt UTC Power fuel cell has powered a Whole Foods Market store in Glastonbury, Conn., since March 2008. A 400-kilowatt fuel cell will supply 90 percent of the power and all of the hot water needs for a new store in Dedham, Mass., the largest Whole Foods Market in the Northeast region.

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest and quietest power-generating technologies in the world today. Highly efficient and virtually pollution-free, fuel cells produce electricity, heat and water through an electrochemical process. Both the Glastonbury and Dedham installations, by virtue of their environmental benefits, qualified for state-level grants through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, respectively.

More than half of the energy potential in traditional power plants is lost to the atmosphere as waste heat or in transmission line losses. But a fuel cell turns potential waste heat into usable energy, capturing it to cool supermarket refrigeration cases year-round and to heat the store in the winter months.

"We are seeing increased interest from both supermarkets and the big box retail industry for our fuel cells," said Neal Montany, director of the UTC Power stationary fuel cell business. "Energy-intensive businesses that need power around-the-clock and that can use the heat byproduct are a very good fit for fuel cells. The UTC Power PureCell(R) system also can be configured to provide enhanced energy security and protect supermarkets against costly food spoilage in the event of a power failure," Montany added.

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

    Contact:  Peg Hashem
              (860) 727 2093
              Peg.hashem@utcpower.com

SOURCE UTC Power