Price Chopper to Power Store With Fuel Cells

Price Chopper’s concept Colonie store in New York state’s capital region will supply its own power on-site using the same fuel cell technology that will be installed at the World Trade Center towers site under construction in New York City. According to the operator, the installation marks the first time the cutting-edge technology will power a U.S. supermarket.

The store will use the PureCell Model 400 system from UTC Power. Fuel cells — electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat, and water — operate without combustion, making them virtually pollution-free.

“The UTC Power fuel cell technology serves as both a primary and emergency power source at our 69,000-square-foot Colonie store location,” said Benny Smith, VP of facilities for Schenectady, N.Y.-based Golub Corp., which owns Price Chopper. “With our ongoing goals of achieving greater efficiencies at our stores, we fully expect the fuel cell unit to reduce our overall utility costs as well as the store’s carbon footprint.”

In addition to the fuel cell, the Colonie store boasts an array of environmentally friendly features, including advanced systems in cooling and refrigeration, and daylight harvesting, and employs several waste and recycling initiatives. The store will serve as a prototype for future Price Chopper supermarkets.

Price Chopper teamed with the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) throughout the planning of the project. NYSERDA provided incentives through the New Construction and Combined Heat and Power Demonstration programs.

Golub owns and operates 120 Price Chopper grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
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