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$3.5 Million in Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program Grants
"WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Gov. Bob Taft joined local officials and fuel cell industry experts yesterday to dedicate one of the nation's first utility-scale fuel cell power plants, located at a substation in here. The AMP-Ohio/City of Westerville Commercial Fuel Cell Demonstration project, a 2003 Third Frontier Project grant recipient, is a fuel cell power plant substation designed to feed power directly into a local distribution for general consumption, which will provide enough electricity to power more than 180 homes in the City of Westerville, Taft said. At the ceremony, Taft pledged to keep Ohio at the forefront of fuel cell technology, awarding nearly $3.5 million in Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program funds to five Ohio companies: NexTech Materials, Ltd. of Lewis Center; GrafTech International Ltd. of Parma; The Edison Materials and Technology Center of Dayton; Velocys Inc. of Plain City; and MetaMateria Partners LLC of Columbus."Ohio has been on the leading edge of fuel cell technology for several years, and with today's installation in Westerville, the Buckeye State has jumped ahead and established its leadership as an industry pioneer," Taft said. "Today's event signifies that our Third Frontier investments in the fuel cell industry are succeeding and directly benefiting Ohio citizens." Collectively, the funded projects are expected to create as many as 520 jobs over the next few years, Taft said.Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program grants support the growth of Ohio's fuel cell industry through collaborations that involve Ohio higher education institutions, nonprofit research organizations and Ohio companies.In 2003, AMP-Ohio and City of Westerville were awarded a Third Frontier grant of $839,016 to install an advanced fuel cell power plant and demonstrate the viability and benefits of a utility fuel cell at a local electric utility substation. The 250-kilowatt fuel cell, manufactured by FuelCell Energy Inc. and distributed by Caterpillar, generates power by converting hydrogen-rich fuel such as natural gas into electricity through an electrochemical process. The fuel cell does not combust fuel, thereby virtually eliminating harmful emissions from the plant, and its lack of moving parts make it a more reliable and secure power source. Unveiled by Governor Taft in February 2002, the Third Frontier Project is a 10-year, $1.1 billion initiative to expand high-tech research capabilities, promote innovation, encourage company formation and create high-paying jobs in the Ohio. It is the state's largest-ever, technology-based economic development investment, awarding more than $220 million to Ohio-based companies, universities and research organizations to date. "