(Archived) Praxair Licenses Low-NOx Technology To Northeast Generation Services Company

DANBURY, Conn., June 10, 2003 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced a contract to supply oxygen and license its patent-pending advanced proprietary low-NOx (nitrogen oxide) combustion technology to Northeast Generation Services Company for use at the 147-megawatt, coal-fired Mt. Tom Station in Holyoke, Mass.

"Our NOx-control technology is a natural extension of our 50-plus years of combustion innovation and leadership and will complement Mt. Tom's current emissions control strategy," said Jim Fuchs, Praxair president, North American Industrial Gases. "This project will demonstrate that utilizing oxygen-enhanced combustion—Praxair's patent-pending combustion technology for coal-fired, wall-fired utility and industrial boilers—will provide a cost-effective reliable means to significantly reduce NOx emissions." The simple modular design enables installation and operation by early summer, 2003.

"We're excited about participating in this project with Praxair, and the potential to advance the available environmental technology options for coal-fired stations. The project supports NGS' environmental goals and could provide an additional means of meeting the Massachusetts emissions standards," said Dennis Brown, NGS' director for plant management and operations services.

Northeast Generation Services Company (NGS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northeast Utilities (NYSE:NU).  Northeast Utilities operates New England's largest energy delivery system and is one of the Northeast's leading competitive energy suppliers. Headquartered in Rocky Hill, Conn., NGS manages and operates power generating facilities for various NU subsidiaries and other owners across the Northeast. The company also provides consulting and engineering, electrical and mechanical contracting, and other specialty energy services to a wide variety of markets including fossil-fueled and hydro-electric plants, nuclear facilities, industrial plants and distributed generation resources. NGS is a recognized industry leader in power generation and industrial technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.ngs-nu.com.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2002 sales of $5.1 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.