CT is No. 2 fuel cell state in country

A fuel cell stack gets tested at the South Windsor manufacturing facility, which was purchased this summer by South Korean conglomerate Doosan, which sees room for the industry to grow.

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Connecticut is the second best state in the nation for fuel cell development, support, and implementation, behind only California, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

In the energy department’s “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2014” report, Connecticut was honored for being home to large fuel cell manufacturers and large fuel cell installations, as well as having favorable incentives and policies for the implementation of the technology. New York, Ohio, and South Carolina rounded out the top five states.

The report highlighted the 14.9 megawatt fuel cell installation in Bridgeport, which is the largest in the world; Orange utility United Illuminating buying 5.6 megwatts of fuel cells to power the electric grid; Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s agreement with seven other states to put more than 3.3 million electric and hydrogen-powered cars on their roads by 2025; Danbury-based FuelCell Energy receiving a $6.4 million grant from the Department of Energy for further fuel cell development; and the purchase of South Windsor fuel cell manufacturer ClearEdge Power by South Korea’s Doosan.

This is the fifth year in a row the energy department has put out this report. Connecticut ranked No. 2 behind California in last year’s report as well.