The plant (60) includes at least one fuel cell (10, 62) having a wetproofed anode support (20) and a cathode support (24) for directing reactant streams adjacent catalysts (14, 16). A porous anode cooler plate (26) has its fuel channels (28A, 28B, 28C, 28D) secured adjacent the anode support (20). A porous cathode water management plate (38) has its oxidant channels (40A, 40B, 40C, 40D) secured adjacent the cathode support (24). A direct antifreeze solution passes only through coolant channels (32A, 32B, 32C, 32D) of the anode cooler plate (26) so the solution cannot poison the catalysts (14, 16), while fuel cell product water flows passively through the water management plate (38) and water management channels (44A, 44B, 44C, 44D) defined in the plate (38) to humidify reactant streams and be discharged from the fuel cell (62).