On Thursday, September 5, 2013, FERC granted eBay Inc. (“eBay”) market-based rate authority, effective August 26, 2013.  eBay is developing an approximately 6 MW fuel cell generation facility at its South Jordan, Utah data center.  While the facility will primarily be used to provide onsite power for the data center, eBay sought blanket authority to sell any excess energy that is produced.  The facility will consist of five Bloom Energy fuel cell systems, also known as “Bloom Boxes,” which will be fueled by natural gas.  The fuel cells are devices that convert fuel into electricity through an electro-chemical process instead of traditional combustion.

eBay is one in a series of non-energy companies who have been investing in the Bloom Boxes, and one of several companies in recent years to have sought to market excess energy from their independent power projects built primarily for private use.

A copy of the order can be viewed here.