Seventeen states enacted, expanded or implemented fuel cell and hydrogen-related tax incentives, business support, grant funding opportunities and other policies in 2011, Fuel Cells 2000 reported today.

(Washington, DC – January 31, 2012) Seventeen states enacted, expanded or implemented fuel cell and hydrogen-related tax incentives, business support, grant funding opportunities and other policies in 2011, Fuel Cells 2000 reported today.

"It was a banner year for fuel cells in the U.S.," said Jennifer Gangi, Program Director of Fuel Cells 2000. "In addition to a long list of supportive policies, we saw large purchases by well-known corporations, more fuel cell cars and buses operating on America's roadways, and first-hand anecdotes of fuel cells generating power during hurricanes and snow storms when grid power failed. This performance in the field is justifying the investment that governments are making in fuel cells and hydrogen."

2012 also started off strong, with the approval of California's Advanced Clean Cars program that will significantly increase the number of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fueling stations in the state.

Fuel Cells 2000's annual policy report, 2011 Policy Activity Wrapup – Fuel Cells & Hydrogen (http://www.fuelcells.org/2011StatesH2FCWrapUp.pdf), profiles the activities of the 17 states that took action in 2011. Notably, more than a half-dozen recent state-level policies encourage distributed fuel cell power generation under state renewable portfolio standards (RPS).

• The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) new Customer-Sited Tier Fuel Cell Program provides up to $21.6 million through 2015 to help large power consumers install fuel cells. The program is funded through a ratepayer charge under the state's RPS.
• FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities is soliciting long-term contracts for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to comply with Ohio's RPS, and allows credits for fuel cell power generation.
• California established a Renewable Auction Mechanism (RAM), a simplified market-based procurement mechanism for renewable distributed generation up to 20 MW; fuel cell power is eligible. California's Public Utilities Commission has authorized utilities to procure 1,000 megawatts through RAM, which helps to support the state's RPS goals.
• Rhode Island legislation established a feed-in tariff for distributed renewable energy generation, including fuel cells. Power companies must purchase an aggregate 40 MW or more of clean power generation by the end of 2014.
• Fuel cells were also named as eligible power generation technologies under several state RPS programs (Delaware, Minnesota, Indiana).
• California extended its popular Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) through 2015. SGIP provides rebates for fuel cell and other greenhouse gas-reducing distributed energy systems. Through 2010, it has funded more than 18 MW of fuel cell projects.
• Other recent state policies support hydrogen and fuel cell-powered transport and fueling infrastructure, including tax credits, grants and roadmaps.

2011 Policy Activity Wrapup – Fuel Cells & Hydrogen also reports on fuel cell and hydrogen policy activity in Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

For additional fuel cell information, please visit www.fuelcells.org.