Larson: CCAT Wins Competitive Grant Competition, Will Lead Regional Fuel Cell Innovation Cluster
For Immediate Release: September 20, 2010
Contact: Paul Mounds/860-278-8888
LARSON: CCAT WINS COMPETITIVE GRANT COMPETITION, WILL LEAD REGIONAL FUEL CELL INNOVATION CLUSTER
Northeast Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cluster Includes over 170 entities from New England and New York
East Hartford, CT- Today, U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) joined Bernie Sweeney, Connecticut Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in announcing that the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies (CCAT) was one of 10 national winners of competitive grants to support the growth of the fuel cell industry. CCAT will receive $566,573 in federal funding as part of the SBA's Regional Clusters Initiative to expand the existing Northeast Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cluster in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast.
CCAT, chief organizer and leader of the regional cluster since 2005, will partner with the Hydrogen Energy Center of Maine, the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, the Clean Energy States Alliance (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) and the New York Fuel Cell Network to provide services to support job growth and enhance the competiveness of the region's hydrogen and fuel cell supply chain.
"Connecticut is home to 40 businesses associated with fuel cell technology, including two of our nation's largest fuel cell companies. With over 2,100 direct and indirect jobs in the state due to this emerging industry, it is important we make the necessary investments to continue its growth," said Congressman Larson, Co-Chair of the House Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Caucus. "Under the leadership of the SBA and CCAT, the Northeast Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cluster will present a strong blueprint to strengthen the competitiveness of the industry and create a structure to promote job creation and support economic growth throughout the region."
The Northeast Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cluster includes over 170 small businesses, local manufacturers, academic institutions, workforce investment boards, and other public and private agencies in the New England and New York regions. Currently over 3,000 workers are employed by the numerous organizations associated with the cluster.
From 2007-2009, the total amount of units of fuel cells shipped increased from 7,000 units to 15,000 units and estimates show that this cluster has the potential to capture $14 to $54 billion annually of the global fuel cell and hydrogen markets.
Congressman Larson added, "I have long supported the great potential fuel cells have to impact Connecticut economically and environmentally- to create high-paying jobs and clean, affordable energy. The Small Business Administration deserves praise and recognition for selecting CCAT's proposal out of the hundreds of applications seeking funding. This investment by the federal government is further evidence of Connecticut's standing as the national leader in hydrogen and fuel cell technology, and why we need to continue our efforts locally to preserve that status."
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