The plant, consisting of a hydrogen fuel cell and an electrolyzer, captures hydrogen from water and stores it in a tank until it is needed for generating electricity. The electricity powers the neighboring Wildlife Encounter Pavilion.

Solar energy panels on the roof of the pavilion, and at a different location in the park, provide the electricity that powers the electrolyzer.

Progress Energy and the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation installed the hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer to study hydrogen power and educate the public about this new form of energy.

Agency officials will join Progress Energy Florida President Bill Habermeyer today for a dedication ceremony at the park. The ceremony begins at 11:15 a.m. at the Wildlife Encounter Pavilion.

Although hydrogen power is in its infancy, it can be used for anything that gas and oil are used for today, according to John A. Masiello, a Progress Energy scientist who will study data from the plant. But he said hydrogen power has several advantages over fossil fuels.

Hydrogen is 14 ½ times lighter than air and is the most abundant source of energy on the planet. It can be generated using sunlight and water, which means it doesn't have to be imported from overseas, as with much of the country's oil. And it's clean energy.

"That's the beauty of it; it's emission free," Masiello said.

The disadvantage is that hydrogen is embedded in other materials, like water. Developing a process to capture it in large quantities is the challenge for the future.

Masiello said the small plant in Homosassa Springs is a good start. He expects the scientific data collected from the plant to yield valuable information about hydrogen power and how it can be made more efficient.

The plant can produce 1.2 kilowatts of power. It uses about two liters of water per hour and discharges a small amount of water and some heat as a byproduct.

Masiello says there is no doubt hydrogen technology will improve rapidly. He said the two machines at the park are bigger than they have to be. He said the technology already exists to miniaturize the fuel cell and electrolyzer, but Progress Energy and DEP are using the devices to educate the public about hydrogen power, and larger devices give people a better look at how the technology works.

He compared the technology to a portable electric calculator he purchased from his brother in 1970. He said his brother bought it for $300. Masiello purchased it from his brother for $150. The calculator was about the size of a small book.

"Today, you can buy calculators the size of a credit card for a fraction of the price I paid," he said.

Contrary to common belief, Masiello said hydrogen power is safer than gasoline when used in vehicles. He said in a collision involving a gas-powered car, the gasoline tank sometimes ruptures and the driver finds himself or herself sitting in gas. But hydrogen is lighter than air, and dissipates quickly.

He said Progress Energy is involved in a program to use hydrogen cell-powered vehicles in its fleet of company vehicles. The company is also involved in a second initiative to test hydrogen combustion engines. He said emissions are reduced by 99 percent in hydrogen combustion engines.

Art Yerian, manager of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, said he is receiving inquiries from across the nation about the hydrogen fuel cell plant.

Yerian said he wasn't sure what to expect when he was told the plant would be constructed at the park. It was bigger than what he imagined.

But Yerian said he welcomes the opportunity to introduce the technology to the public.

"You're looking at the way of the future," he said.