A Danbury energy company has been selected by United Illuminating to help with renewable power generation.

Danbury-based FuelCell Energy has been awarded the project of creating two 2.8 megawatt fuel cell power plants for United Illuminating.  One will be at a site to be named later this month.  The other will be in Bridgeport as part of a project that includes a solar array. 

The Bridgeport installation will be part of a renewable energy park at Seaside landfill.  FuelCell company officials say the power plant efficiently converting natural gas into continuous electricity that is virtually absent of pollutants.  The total project will occupy approximately 9 acres of land, with the fuel cell power plant using about one quarter of an acre and approximately 1,000 solar panels occupying 8.5 acres. 

FuelCell Energy will operate and maintain the power plants for 20 years under long term service agreements. The plants are expected to be operational in early 2015.  These two fuel cell plants will provide continuous baseload power to the electric grid adequate to power approximately 5,600 homes, generated in a highly efficient and environmentally friendly manner.