Larson, whose district includes Bristol and Torrington, told business and political leaders attending Wednesday’s Eggs and Issues breakfast of the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce that fuel-cell technology can help the United States reduce its dependence on foreign oil in an environmentally friendly manner as well as help Connecticut deal with its growing energy problems.

Connecticut companies are on the leading edge of fuel-cell technology, said the congressman. "This is the fuel-cell center of the universe," he said.

With more than 1,000 people employed in the industry, Larson said, Connecticut is a leader in development of the technology that uses hydrogen, the most abundant element, or a hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen to create electricity by an electrochemical process.

"Other states envy Connecticut for the companies we have here," the East Hartford Democrat said.

Larson noted that New York is bidding to attract Connecticut fuel-cell companies with Michigan andCalifornia already "incredibly aggressive" in this area.

To remain a leader, Connecticut needs to build on an industry that is already here and foster "Yankee ingenuity," Larson said. Government policy, academia and industrial growth to be integrated to achieve the best possible use of this technology, Larson said.

Also, there needs to be more aggressive policy favoring application of fuel cells, such as the legislature mandating their use, for example, in buses, new schools and the heating and cooling of buildings.

Among the major players in this field, Larson said, are FuelCell Energy Inc., a Danbury-based company that employs about 250 people in its Torrington plant, UTC Fuel Cells ofSouth Windsor and Proton Energy Systems of Wallingford.

Frank Wolak, a vice president of FuelCell Energy, also spoke Wednesday, saying Connecticut could become a major exporter of fuel cell energy, similar to how the Netherlands and Scandinavia will reap a big part of the $2.5 billion being spent in the United States on wind technology.

Connecticut has to find solutions to its energy issues that are indigenous to the state or outside entities will force solutions on the state, Wolak warned.

In addition, he said, Connecticut needs to be aware that other states are moving toward building the infrastructure to support this industry.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larson said, is supporting the use of cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells to reduce dependence on Mideast petroleum. This includes state subsidies for the manufacture of hydrogen fuel cells and incentives to buy vehicles powered by the cells.

The California plan is to have hydrogen stations about 20 miles apart on highways and readily available in urban areas, Larson said. By 2010 there could be a "Hydrogen Highway" stretching from British Columbia to Baja California.

States have to take the initiative in promoting fuel-cell use, Larson said, because there is a huge petroleum lobby in Washington obstructing progress on the national level.

Citing President Kennedy’s commitment to putting a man on the moon within 10 years, Larson said the technological and logistical challenges to achieve this goal are much greater than to harvest hydrogen as an energy source.

This technology already exists and is being used in space stations, hospitals and even New York City police stations, Larson said.

A factor inhibiting growth in the fuel-cell industry, Wolak said, is that this currently is not the least costly form of energy, even though progress is being made.

The cost issue, he said, is primarily related to manufacturing installations and not the efficiency of fuel cells. He said his company produces a 1 megawatt unit that can meet the energy needs of 250 homes.

The congressman and Wolak noted that another major energy issue facing Connecticut is the need to improve infrastructure including transmission systems.

Christopher Swan, director of municipal relations for Northeast Utilities Fuel Cell Inc., discussed power transmission issues, particularly for Southwest Connecticut, which he described as an area stretching from Waterbury and Southington through Fairfield County.

"Everyone wants underground transmission," he said. However, this approach can create problems, he said, such as the traffic associated with construction projects and the cost to Connecticut.

"We have largely overhead systems in Connecticut and New England," he said, and other parts of the region don’t want to pay for putting lines underground in Connecticut. Consequently, although transmission projects tend to be funded on a regional basis -- Vermont, for example, typically foots about 8 percent of the cost -- Connecticut would have to pick up a bigger share if lines are put underground.