Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Development Funded in Michigan

NextEnergy, Michigan’s alternative energy research, development and education program received a US$2 million earmark in the Fiscal Year 2003 Energy and Water appropriations bill signed by President Bush last month.

Detroit, Michigan – March 10, 2003 [SolarAccess.com] NextEnergy COO, Steve Arwood credits the leadership of House appropriations committee members U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-13th District of Michigan) and U.S. Representative Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Township) as well as U.S. Senator Carl Levin and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. “Fuel cell vehicles and power generation equipment will rely on hydrogen reforming, tanking and refueling. Getting to that goal will require an intense research effort,” said Steve Arwood, NextEnergy’s COO. “We are very grateful to Congresswoman Kilpatrick, Congressman Knollenberg, Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow for their commitment to NextEnergy and the goal of making the State of Michigan the leader in the development of alternative energy technology.” NextEnergy is a non-profit corporation founded in October 2002 in the Wayne State University Research and Technology Park and has been designated an Alternative Energy Renaissance Zone by the City of Detroit. The zone offers up to 20-year state and local tax exemptions for companies that locate and perform alternative energy research, development and manufacturing. NextEnergy dedicated the site for its new 40,000 square-foot facility in December of 2002. The facility will incorporate the latest technology in the building’s electrical, and heating and cooling systems. The facility’s power grid will include the use of fuel cells, advanced internal combustion engines, stirling engines, as well as photovoltaics and advanced solar systems. The building will also house laboratory, education facilities, product demonstration areas, office space and interactive space for public understanding of alternative energy.