Plug Power Adds WinCo Foods to Growing Customer List

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG - News), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announces that WinCo Foods LLC will use 184 GenDrive(R) fuel cell units to power its electric lift truck fleet at its 800,000 sq. ft. grocery distribution center in Modesto, CA. Plug Power will provide WinCo with:

* 93 class-3 GenDrive units to operate pallet jacks
* 38 class-2 GenDrive units to operate stand-up counterbalance trucks
* 53 class-2 GenDrive units to operate European-style moving mast lift trucks

WinCo will pay for the systems through a five year lease with Somerset Capital Group. Somerset was identified as Plug Power's global customer lease provider for GenDrive fuel cell units in November, 2010. WinCo is the second customer to take advantage of the strategic arrangement put in place to leverage Somerset's leasing capabilities to drive market penetration for GenDrive.

This transaction with WinCo Foods marks Plug Power's first large grocery installation in California. WinCo moves produce, dry and freezer goods at their facility, a task which will be made more productive thanks to the constant power provided by GenDrive during an entire shift. For WinCo, this conversion from lead-acid batteries will mean increases in productivity, as well as a significant reduction in grid-supplied energy use, where electricity charges are in excess of $.10 per kW-hr.

At the same time, the GenDrive units being developed for WinCo's European-style moving mast lift trucks will offer Plug Power a segue into the European material handling industry with a reliable product. The material handling industry in Europe is approximately a $5.7B USD market and provides a path for expansion for Plug Power.

"California is an important state for Plug Power to aggressively prove the commercial viability of GenDrive because of the high energy costs currently absorbed by our customers," said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power. "We can help our customers save millions of dollars over the life of these products by converting their lift truck fleet power solutions to GenDrive fuel cells."

"WinCo Foods appreciates the opportunity to utilize the GenDrive fuel cells which will reduce our labor costs while powering our equipment in a more environmentally conscious way," said Michael Read, WinCo Foods spokesman. "We very much appreciate the teamwork displayed by Plug Power and Somerset to meet our needs and to make this conversion as efficient as possible."

About Plug Power Inc.

The architects of modern fuel cell technology, Plug Power revolutionized the industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints. Long-standing relationships with industry leaders forged the path for our key accounts, including Wegmans, Whole Foods, and FedEx Freight. With more than 1,000 units in the field and over 2 million hours of runtime, Plug Power manufactures tomorrow's incumbent power solutions today. Visit us at www.plugpower.com.