Rochester, New York, the home to Rochester Institute of Technology and Eastman Kodak and voted the 6th best place to live in the U. S. is now vying to become the country’s first “Hydrogen Village”. And, the hydrogen village people couldn’t be happier.
Now, there may not be an Indian chief dancing around singing “Y.M.C.A.”, but Mayor Robert Duffy is ecstatic about turning his town of 200,000 people into an exemplary green city based upon hydrogen. General Motors will be starting up their “Project Driveway” program next month in Rochester, in which they will be rolling out 100 hydrogen vehicles nationwide.
The city of Rochester will also have four hydrogen buses running, one powered by fuel cell and three by modified internal combustion engines. This Hydrogen Village is also constructing hydrogen refueling stations downtown to service the buses and cars. There is even a waterfall downtown that will be used to produce hydrogen via the electrolysis of water.
Now, while it may take a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to raise awareness about the future of the hydrogen economy. As the first Hydrogen Village in the United States, Rochester is positioned to raise awareness as well as expectations about the fine future of hydrogen in the transportation industry. And, you don’t have to be a Macho Man to see that.