'Hydrogen highway' may run to Portland (Maine)

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/hydrogen-highway-may-run-to-portland_2010-11-11.html

Greater Portland will become the northern end of an evolving "hydrogen highway" along the East Coast if a Connecticut company moves ahead with plans to build a filling station here for a coming generation of fuel-cell-powered electric vehicles.

The station would be built in the next two years by SunHydro of Wallingford, Conn., and use solar panels and water to produce hydrogen. The first station using the technology opened last month in Wallingford, at Proton Energy Systems, an affiliate of SunHydro. A second station is planned for Braintree, Mass.

SunHydro has proposed an initial network of nine hydrogen service stations along Interstate 95 from Portland to Miami. It would be the world's first chain of privately funded stations for fuel-cell-powered cars and trucks, the company said.

On Tuesday, a representative from Proton Energy will be in Portland to explain details of the venture. The free session will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., in Room 109 of the Abromson Community Center at the University of Southern Maine.

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