Cox Communications has completed an 800kW fuel cell installation in Orange County, California.
The installation at Cox’s Rancho Santa Margarita facility provides nearly 60 percent of the building’s electricity requirements. It joins a 100kW photovoltaic rooftop array.
Combined, Cox's two alternative energy installations in Rancho Santa Margarita offset the annual amount of pollution produced by more than 850 cars, the company said.
The cable, Internet and wireless company contracted with UTC Power to install the fuel cells.
Cox's latest installation joins two fuel cells, totaling 800 kW, installed at its San Diego facility in January. Parent company Cox Enterprises also has a fuel cell project in Oakland, Calif., at Fox affiliate television station KTVU.
The fuel cell projects are part of the nationwide Cox Conserves program, which is designed to reduce the company's carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2017 through renewable energy and conservation.
Cox Conserves applies to each of the company’s major subsidiaries: Cox Communications, Manheim, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader.com.
The program has installed solar installations at locations in Phoenix; Atlanta; Macon, Ga.; Bordentown, N.J.; and Portland, Ore.
Cox Enterprises said that its alternative energy projects together prevent nearly 21,000 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the environment each year.
"The fuel cells at our Cox Communications facilities in California represent an important step in our overall Cox Conserves program," said Keith Mask, assistant vice president of energy management and engineering at Cox Enterprises. "The three new alternative energy installations are making a substantial impact on helping us reach Cox Conserves' goal."
