DANBURY, Conn., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL), a leading manufacturer of stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed generation, has signed an agreement with Arizona-based Salt River Project (SRP) to provide and service a 250-kilowatt Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plant. The DFC300A power plant will be owned and operated by SRP and will be located at the Arizona State University East Campus in Mesa, Ariz. The unit will feed the electricity output into SRP's local grid. Delivery is expected in late 2004 or early 2005. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This new order is consistent with our goal of developing sustainable markets for our DFC products," said Herbert T. Nock, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales of FuelCell Energy, Inc. "Municipal utilities have been early adopters of environmentally friendly and efficient technologies, investing in projects that deliver broader benefits in addition to electricity. We are very pleased to be working with SRP to gain additional experience for our DFC products in utility applications."

This installation is the fifth DFC power plant installation by FuelCell Energy for a municipal utility customer. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power currently operates three DFC300A power plants within its city limits and the Company is expected to deliver a 250-kilowatt unit to American Municipal Power -- Ohio for a substation in the city of Westerville, Ohio in the first calendar quarter of 2004.

"This fuel cell power plant installation will be our first generating unit that produces clean, efficient and reliable base load electricity without the combustion of fuel," said Herjinder Hawkins, Manager of Renewable Energy and Technologies, SRP. "We are excited to be working with FuelCell Energy as we continue to establish energy programs that help protect the environment and provide reassurance for today's families and future generations."

About Direct FuelCells

Direct FuelCells efficiently generate clean electricity at distributed locations near customer locations, including hospitals, schools, universities, hotels and other commercial and industrial facilities, as well as in grid-support applications for utility customers. Essentially, Direct FuelCells are like large, continuously operating batteries that generate electricity as long as fuel, such as natural gas, is supplied. Since the fuel is not burned, there is no pollution commonly associated with the combustion of fossil fuels. Because hydrogen is generated directly within the fuel cell module from readily available fuels such as natural gas and wastewater treatment gas, DFC power plants are ready today and do not require the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure. This high-efficiency technology generates more electric power from less fuel and with less carbon dioxide emissions than traditional combustion methods.

About FuelCell Energy, Inc.

FuelCell Energy, Inc., based in Danbury, Connecticut, is a world leader in the development and manufacture of high temperature hydrogen fuel cells for clean electric power generation, currently offering DFC power plant products ranging in size from 250 kilowatts to 2 megawatts for applications up to 50 megawatts. Its subsidiary, Global Thermoelectric Inc., is a leader in the development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) products and the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of thermoelectric stationary power generators for use in remote locations.

The Company has developed commercial distribution alliances for its carbonate Direct FuelCell technology with MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, a company of DaimlerChrysler AG, in Europe; Marubeni Corporation in Asia; Caterpillar, PPL Energy Plus, Chevron Energy Solutions and Alliance Power in the U.S; and Enbridge in Canada. FuelCell Energy is developing Direct FuelCell technology for stationary power plants with the U.S. Department of Energy through its Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory. More information is available at www.fuelcellenergy.com.

About Salt River Project (SRP)

SRP is two entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, a political subdivision of the state of Arizona; and the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, a private corporation. The District provides electricity to nearly 800,000 retail customers in the Phoenix area. It operates or participates in seven major power plants and numerous other generating stations, including thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric sources.

The Association delivers nearly 1 million acre-feet of water to a service area in central Arizona. An extensive water delivery system is maintained and operated by the Association, including reservoirs, wells, canals and irrigation laterals.

The mission of SRP is to deliver ever-improving contributions to the people we serve through the provision of low cost, reliable water and power, and community programs, to ensure the vitality of the Salt River Valley.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the development and commercialization of its fuel cell technology. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risk that commercial field trials of the Company's products will not occur when anticipated, general risks associated with product development, manufacturing, integration of our acquisition of Global Thermoelectric, Inc., changes in the utility regulatory environment, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid technological change, and competition, as well as other risks set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.