Last Tuesday, that center opened its doors for the first time.

In a three-hour ceremony, the New Jersey Hydrogen Learning Center was introduced and promoted to local policymakers, business leaders and other stakeholders in the emerging hydrogen economy, a press release said.

The overall goals of the program are to create a network of these stakeholders, who will work in conjunction with its University partners: Ramapo College, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Ocean County Community College and the College of New Jersey.

Each college is responsible for creating an "educational module," which will use existing hydrogen fuel facilities to promote research and host meetings for stakeholders in order to create a policy consensus.

In long term, the learning center envisions New Jersey as a leader in the industry.

Proponents of hydrogen technology, such as James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, emphasized the need for immediate technological advancements in the hydrogen field.

Given the "depleted resources" of fossil fuels, Hughes said he believes hydrogen will be the basis of transportation infrastructure in the future. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is also a means to eliminate percolates, he said.

Although hydrogen fuel technology is well-known as a renewable or "green" source of energy, it is also a means to increase national security by decreasing the country's dependence on foreign oil, according to the report.

Nevertheless, there are challenges facing this emerging industry.

Primarily, hydrogen fuel cells are significantly more expensive than other forms of energy.

Whereas the typical cost per kilowatt is between $1,000 and $2,000, hydrogen fuel cells are between $4,000 and $5,000 per kilowatt, according to panelist Stephan Pontiatowitz. Pontiatowitz is the assistant vice president of Marina Energy, LLC, subsidiary of South Jersey Industries.

Despite this high cost, many of the speakers found comfort in the anecdote that when electricity was first invented, opponents protested that electricity was 10 percent more expensive than whale blubber, which was then believed to be in infinite supply.

There are other problems, such as a limited number of hydrogen manufacturers, and the fact the high quality of natural gas limits the industrial incentive.

Nonetheless, Pontiatowitz remained hopeful that the learning center will be a place to advance research and subsequently the industry.

Others were equally optimistic.

"This is a great initiative," said Diane Hulse-Hiller, a member of the Geothermal Project at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. "I'm looking forward and hope it continues after the first year."

The "New Jersey: Opportunities and Options in the Hydrogen Economy" report was commissioned by the Fund for New Jersey and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. It was compiled by the Center for Energy, Economic and Environmental Policy and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.