With two of the largest fuel cell manufacturers in the world located in Connecticut, FuelCell Energy, Inc. and UTC Power, the Connecticut Hydrogen Fuel Cell Coalition (CHFCC) sees a bright future for high technology in this small state. Currently, over 2,000 people are employed in the fuel cell industry in Connecticut and CHFCC expects those numbers to grow significantly (12 to 20-percent) in the near future.
Within Connecticut, CHFCC is advancing technology in three sectors including stationary fuel cells, portable fuel cells and hydrogen fuel cells and infrastructure associated with the transportation industry. Connecticut already has 13-percent of the global market for fuel cells and with $18.6 billion up for grabs over the next decade, this state plans to expand its market share by investing in R&D now.
The CHFCC is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), which was given the task in a 2006 legislative session to create a plan for fuel cell development in the state. The governor signed the legislation, which has the major goal of facilitating the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technology for the purpose of reducing emissions, creating energy reliability and generating new jobs. The plan also specifically calls for facilitating the development of hydrogen infrastructure to support the transportation industry.