Bloom Energy’s aptly-titled Bloom Box made a splash last year with much hooplah , bringing the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Colin Powell to its unveiling. But while the promise of efficient fuel cell technology is great for the eco-minded and even the long-term penny-pincher, the mid-to-high six-figure upfront cost limits the potential customer base to only the upper echelon of the environmentally conscious. Cue Bloom Electrons — instead of paying for the Bloom Boxes and owning them outright, you can lease a 2MW installation for no money down and pay only for the electrons you use. A 10-year contract is required, which yes does put your smartphone commitment to shame, but Bloom hopes this Credit Suisse / Silicon Valley Bank-backed plan opens the door for educational institutions and non-profits to join in on the phone. Press release after the break. Continue reading Bloom Electrons’ pay-what-you-consume service thinks outside the Box Bloom Electrons’ pay-what-you-consume service thinks outside the Box originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink