Q & A on the news
Q: What is the latest information on the Bloom Box technology on generating electricity that was presented on “60 Minutes” earlier this year? Also, what connection does former Secretary of State Colin Powell have with this Bloom Box company?
—Regina Hines, Ball Ground
A: The Bloom Box technology is created by Bloom Energy, a California-based advanced fuel cell technology firm. Time magazine, which named the Bloom Box one of the best inventions of 2010, writes: "Its Bloom Box -- about half the size of a shipping container -- generates electricity using solid oxide fuel cells, which provide juice by oxidizing a fuel source. In the case of the Bloom Box, that fuel source is natural gas, though the company hopes to substitute cleaner sources in the future. Silicon Valley companies like Google and eBay are already using Bloom Boxes for greener backup power, at a cost of about $800,000 each." The size of the Bloom Box is described as about half the size of a shipping container. Powell is listed on Bloom Energy's board of directors. Stu Aaron, the company's vice president of marketing and product management, told www.earthtechling.com in a November story that the initial focus is on serving commercial and industrial customers. The company's vision is to eventually produce units for residential customers and rural areas around the world, Aaron told the site.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
