TAFT ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF OHIO FUEL CELL INITIATIVE
Two additional Third Frontier awards position Ohio to become national leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced a three-year extension of the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative. Taft made the announcement at the 2005 Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) Symposium, an annual gathering of fuel cell industry leaders from around Ohio and the U.S. The extension comes on the heels of two new Fuel Cell Initiative awards, worth a total of more than $2 million.

“As we confront the reality of an impending global peak in oil production, we must develop and commercialize alternative sources of energy, and Ohio is leading the way,” said Governor Taft. “Through the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative, we’ve made substantial progress over the last three years in advancing the fuel cell industry in our state and by extending this program we will sustain and build upon our current success.”

Created in 2002, the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative is a $103 million program that aims to position Ohio as a national leader in the growing fuel cell industry and help spur economic growth and job creation in Ohio. To date, more than $38 million in Fuel Cell Initiative funds has been awarded to fuel cell projects across the state. The Initiative is an integral part of Governor Taft’s Third Frontier Project, a $1.1 billion job creation program designed to create jobs and bring new products to market.

The Third Frontier Commission yesterday approved $1.6 million in operating funds for the Wright Fuel Cell Group, Ohio’s Wright Center of Innovation for fuel cells led by Case Western Reserve University. The goal of the Center is to establish Ohio as an international leader in fuel cell research and innovation, creating a competitive advantage for Ohio companies leading to job creation and spin-off businesses. According to the National Academy of Sciences report recommending funding for this project, “the Center places Ohio in a forefront position in the emerging fuel cell industry.”

Also receiving funding through the Fuel Cell Initiative is Mound Technical Solutions (MTS), located in Miamisburg, Ohio. MTS received a $600,000 Third Frontier Action Fund award by the Commission to develop, manufacture and market the next generation modular Comprehensive Fuel Cell Test System. Collaborators on this project include the University of Dayton Research Institute, Cellex Power, Case Western Reserve University, EMTEC, Mound Community Improvement Corp., Sinclair Community College and Battelle.

Founded in 2003 and financially supported in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Development, the OFCC represents almost 70 private and public partners from Ohio’s fuel cell industry.