He spoke at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast meeting.

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Larson is concerned Connecticut might lose its edge over other states -- such as New York or Michigan -- in the technology.

"The competition is going on," said Larson in a phone interview after the breakfast.

"We can’t wait for the federal dollars to be released. We have to take bold action itself."

The initiative, he said, can start with powering heating and cooling buildings or school buses

Not only would the initiative better the economy, be reliable and sustainable, it would wean the nation off foreign oil, which in Larson’s opinion, is the primary reason why the country is involved in the Middle East.

"There is no question in my mind that, at the heart of the issue, oil is central," Larson said.

And eventually that resource will run out, he said.

The technology provides more than 1,000 jobs, accounting for a third of the nation’s fuel cell related employment.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has invested approximately $35 million since its January 2000 inception.

Larson said there needs to be planning and millions more dollars invested. Although the technology is close to being ready for everyday use, its cost remains an obstacle.

"You will need more volume to get costs down," said Guy Hatch, chief operating officer for Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology.

"There are some remaining engineering challenges and even some technology challenges, but we’re getting to the point where they are less than cost challenges."

The East Hartford-based center is leading a program -- funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research -- that is focusing on advanced propulsion and fuel cells.

"The technology has been demonstrated," said Hatch. "It certainly has some capability."

They can be used for transportation, stationary and portable applications that range from motor vehicle to powering.

South Windsor-based UTC Power, Danbury-based FuelCell Energy Inc., Wallingford-based Proton Energy, Suffield-based Infinity Fuel Cell and Southbury-based GenCell Corporation manufacture the cells.

Valerie Bolden-Barrett, UTC Power spokeswoman, said educating people about the technology is the first step.

She could not say when the cells will be ready for commercialization or how much more investment they need.

"(People) are just beginning to understand what fuel cell technology is about," said Bolden-Barrett.

People who attended the breakfast meeting were enthusiastic about Larson’s remarks, said Larry McHugh, chamber president.

"I think the business community statewide should be interested in supporting this technology," said McHugh. "This is where the future is going to be."

To contact Josh Mrozinski, call (860) 347-3331, ext. 222 or e-mail jmrozinski@middletownpress.com