A while back Bert Caldwell discussed in a column the concerns among regional power producers if California adopts or doesn't adopt significant energy-generation measures.

We think this item, about a San Diego Albertson's, is interesting and worth  reading, for a few reasons. One, we do have Albertsons in this area. We don't see this happening soon in Eastern Washington, but since ReliON, based in Spokane, produces fuel cells, perhaps it's not that far a reach.

 

Boise, Idaho-based grocery chain Albertsons is slated to open a new store in San Diego's Clairemont community that will be one of the first in California to generate nearly 90 percent of its electricity from fuel cell technology. Using a 400-kilowatt fuel cell from UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp., the 55,000-sq.-ft. green Albertsons store will officially open on Sept. 1.

 

"When it comes to minimizing our environmental footprint, the Clairemont store is a tremendous achievement for us," noted Rick Crandall, Albertsons' director of environmental stewardship.

"With the assistance of UTC Power's fuel cell, it's our first store that significantly reduces its burden on the power grid."

Byproduct heat from the fuel cell process will be captured and used to warm water used in the store, heat the store when necessary and to power a chiller to help cool the refrigerated food. The fuel cell technology also will allow the store to operate during power outages, avoiding costly food spoilage and ensuring a reliable food supply in emergency situations.

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