In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, San Diego’s leading telecommunications provider of voice, video and data services, Cox Communications decided to turn to alternative energy for nearly all electrical requirements at its San Diego headquarters at Federal Boulevard and Euclid Avenue.

Through a recent press release, the company announced the completion of the construction project of two next-generation fuel cells totaling 800 kilowatts (kW). UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. company is providing PureCell Model 400 fuel cells for the project.

The fuel cell project is a part of the company’s nationwide Cox (News - Alert) Conserves program that is designed to reduce the company's carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2017, and promote eco-friendly behavior among its employees, communities and other corporations.

Of the two separate 400 kilowatt (kW) installations at Federal Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, one fuel cell will provide 100 percent of the electrical load for one building, and the second fuel cell will provide nearly 60 percent of the electrical requirement for the main building.

According to Cox Communications, these fuel cells are capable of generating enough onsite power equivalent to planting 618 acres of trees, powering 602 homes annually, and saving nearly one million gallons of water a year.

“Cox Communications is extremely proud to be able to make such a positive impact on our environment and help encourage other businesses to implement eco-friendly initiatives,” said senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications' San Diego operations, Bill Geppert, in a statement.

In November, Cox Communications announced the launch of Cox Tech Solutions (CTS (News - Alert)) in Connecticut and Rhode Island, which provides premium Cox technical support service for High Speed Internet customers.