Columbia, S.C. The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance (SCHFCA) announced that it will receive $188,788 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the development of hydrogen education programs for state and local government officials. The project is a joint educational venture between the SCHFCA and Greenway Energy, LLC. The funding will be used across three years to create and implement technically accurate information about the benefits of hydrogen technology and safety. The primary goal will be to educate government decision-makers through in-person training sessions, meetings, online resources and web-based seminars.

The education program directly supports the goals of the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cell & Infrastructure Technologies Program. “This latest award from the Department of Energy is proof that South Carolina is recognized as one of the key players on the road to the hydrogen economy,” said Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, Executive Director for the SCHFCA. The SCHFCA will leverage the award to reach a wide array of government decision-makers in

South Carolina with the assistance of the South Carolina Energy Office, the South Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association, the Municipal Association of South Carolina and the South Carolina Fire Marshal’s office. These partner groups will allow the program developers to reach the targeted audiences through existing relationships.

“This award also supports one of the primary goals of our organization through promoting public education about this exciting technology that is quickly changing the way we look at energy in the Palmetto State,” said Baxter-Clemmons. “The effort that will go into educating our state’s citizens about hydrogen and fuel cells will act as a timely prequel to next March when the National Hydrogen Association’s annual conference comes to Columbia.”

The 2009 National Hydrogen Association Conference and Hydrogen Expo will be held March 30 through April 3 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, SC. On Wednesday, April 1, the public will be invited to attend an entire day of hydrogen education activities, including opportunities to get behind the wheel of a hydrogen vehicle.

About the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance

The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance (SCHFCA) is a public-private collaboration for cooperative and coordinated utilization of resources in the state used to advance the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Founded in January 2006, the SCHFCA was created by eight organizations devoted to hydrogen and fuel cell initiatives: The Center for Hydrogen Research, Clemson University, EngenuitySC, the Savannah River National Laboratory, the S.C. Department of Commerce, the South Carolina Research Authority, S.C. State University and the University of South Carolina. For more information about the SCHFCA, its members and their activities, please visit www.schydrogen.org