The announcement represents one of the first actual business leases for a commercially-available fuel cell in the United States.

Arlington, VA (May 30, 2005) -- A leading national clean, distributed energy firm which blends technologies and facilitates financing, announced it's lease of a Plug Power (NY) Gencore fuel cell as a back-up power unit for its Northern Virginia office building. The Stella Group, Ltd. with offices in downtown Washington, DC and in Arlington, Virginia assists commercial, industrial, and government users in obtaining on-site energy applications and appropriate financing. The announcement represents one of the first actual business leases for a commercially-available fuel cell in the United States.

Scott Sklar, President of The Stella Group, Ltd. and it's affiliate Stella Capital LLC, had high praise for the Plug Power's modularity and quality. Said Sklar, "with many days of power outages in 2005, both government and business users need to utilize on-site generation, and the best way to demonstrate it's value is to use these technologies for important applications in your own company." Sklar also praised Government Leasing of Colorado as a leader in working with our companies to offer leasing tools for government and industry to utilize fuel cells and other clean distributed generation. Ed Anderson of Government Leasing in Colorado Springs, stated, "We wanted to demonstrate that leasing adds value for on-site, modular, distributed generation and enjoyed working with a national, experienced leader in a broad portfolio of advanced on-site energy technologies".

The 5 kW GenCore unit manufactured by Plug Power of Latham, New York is powered by hydrogen stored in gas cylinders, delivered by Air Gas. The unit operates quietly and cleanly, and far more reliable than traditional battery banks or diesel gensets.

Additionally, on The Stella Group, Ltd, building in Arlington has 1 kW of UniSolar's solar photovoltaic roofing shingles being installed, and R38 insulation and double pane, gas-filled windows and doors are incorporated. Sklar's residence, also in Arlington, has 1 kW of traditional photovoltaics by Solarex and 0.5 kW of UniSolar's "peal and stick" photovoltaics on the front porch's metal-seamed roof - both tied to a Xantrex SW Plus 4048 inverter, and a solar water heating system by SunEarth.