DMEA's Marketing of Fuel Cells, GeoExchange Systems and Other Eco-Technologies Covered by Business Week

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TO ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT EDITORS:

DMEA's Marketing of Fuel Cells, GeoExchange Systems and Other Eco-Technologies Covered by Business Week

COLORADO, MONTROSE, Feb. 26 -/E-Wire/-- (Montrose, CO) Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), an electric cooperative serving 28,000 customers in four counties in southwest Colorado, is featured in the March 5 edition of Business Week, one of the nation's most prestigious and widely read business periodicals.

The article, "Cutting Edge in Rural Colorado?" describes DMEA's "creative innovations" in providing energy services and new technologies such as fuel cells. DMEA installed the first propane powered fuel cell in the country in April of last year through a partnership with H Power Corporation (www.hpower.com) and ECO (Energy Co-Opportunity, www.e-coop.org).

"We're pleased that our new programs and products are gaining recognition across the country, said Dan McClendon, DMEA's General Manager. "GeoExchange systems and emerging technologies such as fuel cells offer solutions to problems confronting other areas of the nation."

"We hope to assist other utilities adopt these successful efforts," agreed Paul Bony, DMEA's marketing manager. "Widespread use of GeoExchange technology, for example, would save thousands of megawatts of power and help western states avoid the situation California now finds itself in."

GeoExchange systems transfer renewable energy from the earth and are the most energy efficient and economical way to heat and cool homes. In addition to installing GeoExchange systems in more than a hundred of its own members' homes, DMEA is developing a next generation GeoExchange technology called "Syndex" through a partnership called "Co-Energies." Co-Energies is now seeking venture capital in order to distribute the Syndex nationally. DMEA's website, www.dmea.com, provides details on these technologies and business opportunities in areas outside DMEA's service area.

DMEA's "Syndex" technology converts an existing air conditioner into a ground-coupled heat pump "GeoExchange" system to also provide low-cost heating in the winter. Syndex draws renewable energy from the earth, cutting fossil fuel use by 50% or more. The potential benefits to customers, the utility grid, and to the environment are enormous, says Steve Metheny, an electrical engineer and DMEA's new product development manager.

"In addition to improving the efficiencies of the air-conditioner in the summer, creating energy and cost savings in the 20% range for the consumer, Syndex clips utility systems peak demand. Widespread use of Syndex would reduce the risks of rolling blackouts because of high air-conditioning demands. By also leveraging renewable earth energy, Syndex offers substantial reductions of emissions associated with fossil fuels. Syndex is a synergistic 'win-win' technology for consumers, utilities and the planet."

DMEA's "AquaDex" also uses the same principle to tap renewable energy for home hot water heating. AquaDex is also a ground-coupled heat pump, reducing demand for electricity by up to 85% compared to traditional electric hot water heaters.

"AquaDex leverages the solar energy stored in the ground for very economical hot water heating for the consumer," says Metheny. "It is an exciting technology which offers environmental as well as economic benefits. It also levels utility load profiles, is a very effective demand-side management product, and increases the efficiency of utility infrastructure." DMEA's pursuit of environmentally-sound energy technologies has caught the attention of some government analysts as well as the business press.

"I think DMEA is one of the most innovative coops in the country," said Peggy Plate, an energy services manager for the Department of Energy's Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).

DMEA will host its next seminar on emerging energy technologies, "Fuel Cells and our F.U.T.U.R.E. (Fantastic Utility Technologies Using Resources Efficiently)," on May 11, 2001. For information on this seminar, contact Tom Polikalas at [REDACTED-EMAIL] or [REDACTED-PHONE].

Delta-Montrose Electric Association

Tom Polikalas, [REDACTED-PHONE], [REDACTED-EMAIL]

http://www.coenergies.com

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