University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA ADVISORY for Friday, Feb. 23, 2007

CSUN to Celebrate Launch of Fuel Cell Power Plant

What:

State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, and clean energy advocates from across the region will join Cal State Northridge President Jolene Koester for the dedication of a 1 megawatt fuel cell power plant at Northridge—the single largest fuel cell power plant at any university in the world.

The power plant provides environmentally friendly power to the campus and ensures that the university can sustain continued growth and improve programs while remaining one of the most energy-efficient institutions in the state.

The fuel cell will generate base load electricity without combustion for the university’s facilities and generates surplus heat for buildings, showers and food service hot water, as well as heat the University Student Union’s swimming pool.

When:

9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 23, 2007

Where:

Grand Salon in the Sol Center (University Student Union)
East side of campus off Zelzah Street
Thomas Guide Grid 501 A-6

Who:

Cal State Northridge President Jolene Koester
State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima
Rick Morrow, vice president of customer service and major markets, Southern California Gas Company
Gary Gero, director of energy efficiency, for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
William Karambelas, vice president of business development for the western region, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:NM:FCEL)
Michael Tollstrup, chief of the project assessment branch for the California Air Resources Board and executive director of the California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative
Tom Brown, executive director of CSUN’s Physical Plant Management
Hamid Johari, chair of CSUN’s Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
CSUN mechanical engineering professor Robert Ryan

Contact:

Carmen Ramos Chandler, CSUN Public Relations, (818) 677-2130