Coca-Cola’s American Canyon Facility to Introduce Five Natural Gas Hydrogen Fuel Cells on Earth Day at Ribbon Cutting Event

Celebration Includes Sustainability Forum with American Canyon High School’s Leadership Class

AMERICAN CANYON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coca-Cola celebrates Earth Day with a ceremonial “green ribbon-cutting” to unveil the installation of five natural gas hydrogen fuel-cell servers at its beverage production facility in American Canyon, Calif. The local Coca-Cola facility opens the celebration to the community by hosting American Canyon High School’s Leadership Class for a Sustainability Forum Friday, April 20.

The forum engages students in the importance of environmental sustainability and gives a glimpse into the wide scope of Coca-Cola’s initiatives locally and throughout the Company.

Local guest speakers will share examples of best practices and demonstrate how new technologies can positively impact water stewardship, energy conservation and recycling. The event will conclude with tours of the 360,000 square-foot production plant.

“Coca-Cola is committed to sustainable and responsible growth, and we recognize that the health of our business is directly linked to the health of the planet and its resources,” said Shirley Boone, vice president of manufacturing for Coca-Cola’s Northwest Region. “We are focusing on areas where we have the most significant impact and the most potential to make positive contributions -- water stewardship, sustainable packaging and energy efficiency and climate protection.”

The Coca-Cola Company is a foundation partner with Bloom Energy, a California-based firm that is pioneering fuel cells that can generate electricity from a variety of energy sources, including natural gas. The core technology, called solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), was originally developed for NASA. The use of fuel cell technology is yet another step in The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to growing its business, but not its system-wide carbon emissions.

Alternative energy sources are critical to The Coca-Cola Company’s global energy efficiency and climate protection strategy. Other initiatives include the Company’s goal of phasing out the use of hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) in all of its new vending and cooling equipment by 2015. The Company has also deployed stationary fuel cells that provide electricity at facilities in Elmsford, New York, East Hartford, Connecticut, and Dinuba, California. Additionally, Coca-Cola converted its forklift fleet to hydrogen power at its production and distribution center in San Leandro, California.

Energy efficiency and climate protection are one of seven focus areas that make up Coca-Cola’s Live Positively platform, the Company’s commitment to making a positive difference in the world by growing business in economically, environmentally and socially sustainable ways. For more information on Live Positively, visit www.livepositively.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of more than 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system employees. For more information, please visit www.thecoca-colacompany.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CocaColaCo.

Coca-Cola Refreshments
Public Affairs & Communications
Dora Wong, 925-830-6574
dorwong@coca-cola.com

Source: The Coca-Cola Company

Released April 19, 2012