Congressman Dale Kildee (D-MI) helped secure $500,000 for Kettering University's Fuel Cell Commercialization Incubator project as part of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for the 2006 fiscal year, signed into law by President Bush Nov. 19.

"I'm delighted my funding request for the Kettering fuel cell project was included in the final Energy and Water Conference Report," said Kildee. "Fuel cell technology holds great promise as a clean, efficient, reliable power source for the future and Kettering is poised to be a national leader in fuel cell research and innovation," he added.

"We are extremely grateful for Congressman Kildee's continued support of the Fuel Cell Commercialization Incubator project," said Dr. K. Joel Berry, academic department head of Mechanical Engineering at Kettering. "This funding will support our economic development mission by attracting new businesses committed to fuel cell technology to the area and allowing them to grow," Berry said.

Kettering's Fuel Cell Commercialization Incubator (FCCI) will assist new and emerging small businesses in bridging the gap between science, technology, business and innovation, so that new companies can integrate products and services within the existing automotive markets. It will also provide emerging companies access to state-of-the-art fuel cell laboratories and research and create an on-going platform for students, faculty, entrepreneurs and industrial members to collaborate in fuel cell projects and applications.

The FCCI is part of Kettering's Center for Fuel Cell Systems and Powertrain Integration, occupying 8,600 square feet in the C.S. Mott Engineering and Science building.

Contact: Scott Kuschmider
Washington, D.C.
2107 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3611
202-225-6393 Fax 0

Flint District Office
432 N. Saginaw St. Suite 410
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 239-1437
(810) 239-1439 Fax

Written by Dawn Hibbard
810-762-9865
dhibbard@kettering.edu