LATHAM, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, announced today that Whole Foods Market, the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, will be using 61 GenDrive(TM) fuel cell-powered forklifts in its Landover, Maryland distribution center in 2010. Whole Foods Market is partnering with Plug Power and GENCO Supply Chain Solutions, North America's second largest third party logistics provider, to complete this installation. The funding for the fuel cells is part of a $6.1 million award made to GENCO in April of 2009 by the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Alliance Material Handling, a Maryland-based Crown lift truck supplier, will supply the fork lifts for this site. The fleet will consist of 45 class-3 pallet jack and 16 class-2 standup reach trucks, all powered by GenDrive fuel cells. The decision to move from lead-acid batteries was facilitated by the opportunity to improve the Company's productivity in their Maryland operations, while also achieving environmental and economic benefits.

Joe Strong, Facility Team Leader at Whole Foods, states, "Whole Foods Market is committed to healthy food and a healthy planet. We are fulfilling that commitment by choosing to use greener technology in our own operations that will improve our productivity and lower our long-term costs."

While GenDrive fuel cell units provide customers with increased economic value through productivity increases, they also allow customers to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the use and charging of lead-acid batteries used in material handling equipment. Conversion to GenDrive fuel cell power units and green hydrogen can reduce material handling fleet GHG emissions up to 80% on-site which is roughly the equivalent of removing two passenger vehicles from the road per year for each forklift truck powered by fuel cells.

"Whole Foods Market is a company whose core values strongly align with Plug Power's. We are excited to be supplying fuel cells to a company that is fulfilling their mission through the purchase of GenDrive as a clean energy alternative," said Tom Hoying, Vice President of Sales for Plug Power.

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive and continuous power products. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world.