October 23, 2014 – Danbury, CT and Sunnyvale, CA — Bloom Energy, Macerich and WGL , through its subsidiary, Washington Gas Energy Systems, announced that Bloom Energy will power Danbury Fair Mall in Connecticut. The 750 kW Bloom Energy fuel cell project will provide the 1.3 million-square-foot mall with clean, reliable energy while reducing the carbon emissions of the facility by nearly 3 million pounds each year. On Friday, October 24th, Danbury Fair will host an event with business leaders and local community officials to celebrate this exciting milestone.
"Danbury Fair is committed to creating long-term value by improving our natural resource efficiency, and operating and developing the center in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner," said Maura Ruby, Senior Property Manager, Danbury Fair Mall. "Installing clean energy technology at Danbury Fair also aligns with our commitments to our retailers, our partners, the community, and the sustainable plan that Macerich is implementing across the vast portfolio."
Established in 2008, Macerich's sustainability program focuses on energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable real estate development and redevelopment, waste management and green operational practices and procurement.
"Macerich has a comprehensive sustainability plan which focuses on efficient and environmentally friendly operating practices throughout our Company," said Jeff Bedell, Vice President of Sustainability at Macerich. "Our success to date has shown that environmental and financial goals are not mutually exclusive and this project will enhance the reliability of our operations, improve cost predictability, and contribute to a healthy environment for our employees, retailers, guests and communities."
Bloom Energy's solid oxide fuel cell technology generates electricity through a highly efficient electrochemical process and provides clean, onsite energy. The project was financed in partnership with Washington Gas Energy Services and the Connecticut LREC (Low-emission Renewable Energy Certificate) Program.
“A key strategy for Washington Gas Energy Systems is the continued investment in clean energy throughout Connecticut, and the Danbury Fair is the latest project in which we have played an important role,” said Sanjiv Mahan, Vice President of Business Development for Washington Gas Energy Systems. “We are proud to partner on another successful endeavor with Bloom Energy, as we continue to invest in clean energy solutions as part of our expanding diversified energy portfolio.”
“The state of Connecticut has been a strong proponent of clean energy and with 18 Bloom Energy projects installed or underway, we are excited to contribute to the state’s ambitious energy goals,” said Bill Kurtz, Chief Financial Officer of Bloom Energy.
For many years, Danbury Fair has been committed to conducting business in ways that minimize the impact on the environment through various initiatives. The shopping center recently installed new energy efficient exterior LED lighting and a thermoplastic white reflective roof. In partnership with Keter Environmental Services, the shopping center is well on the way to earning a Gold standard for quality recycling as a result of tenant recycling programs. In 2015, Danbury Fair will be adding in excess of over 400 solar panels to the central roof areas to further our commitment to sustainable efforts.
About Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy is a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology generating clean, highly-efficient on-site power from multiple fuel sources. The company was 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 Apple, Google, Walmart, 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.
About Macerich
Macerich, an S&P 500 company, currently celebrating 20 years of trading on the NYSE, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States.
Macerich currently owns 57 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 53 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country's most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in California, Arizona, Chicago and the Greater New York Metro area. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's website at www.macerich.com.
About Washington Gas Energy Systems
Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc., an affiliate of Washington Gas Light Company and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings (NYSE: WGL), design-builds and owns custom energy solutions that deliver financial, operational and carbon reduction results for non-residential customers across the United States. Washington Gas Energy Systems is focused on federal energy efficiency projects and commercial distributed generation assets including solar. Washington Gas Energy Systems currently holds over 55 MW of commercial-scale solar projects throughout the U.S. in 11 different states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New Mexico. For more information on how Washington Gas Energy Systems can make solar power a reality for you, contact Nate Greenberg, 703-333-3929, or email nategreenberg@wges.com. For further information about Washington Gas Energy Systems, please visit www.wgesystems.com.