With help from the U.S. government, company officials hope to increase those shipments and lower the cost of each cell.

On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow visited FuelCell in Danbury to discuss with company officials how fuel cells fit into President Bush's energy proposals.

The president called for greater efficiency and less dependence on foreign oil in his Jan. 31 State of the Union speech. Bush said the cost of fuel cells has fallen 50 percent in the last five years, and continuation of that trend will make fuel cells more economical and encourage their use.

"FuelCell Energy is showing us the path forward," Snow said. "I'm delighted to underscore the importance of the public/private partnership here."

Fuel cells are, in effect, large, continuously operating batteries that generate electricity as long as fuel, such as natural gas, is supplied.

Since the fuel is not burned, pollution commonly associated with the combustion of fossil fuels is dramatically reduced. The technology is similar to that which helps power NASA's space shuttle.

Snow said more people are thinking about different energy solutions on the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the region should be used as a test site for new energy technology.

U.S. Rep Nancy Johnson, R-5th Dist., said she and Snow will bring that message back to Washington D.C.

"We're going to look into the importance of the government as a purchaser to encourage rapid development and price reductions," Snow said.

"There should be a fuel cell at every hospital," Johnson said. "We'll go back and consider it further."

FuelCell CEO and President Dan Brdar said the company is selling fuel cells, but with the federal government's help, the cost per cell could drop quickly.

"The federal government is the world's largest energy user," Brdar said. "What the government could do in buying fuel cells is create enough volume that the cost would go down on each unit."

FuelCell has numerous research and development projects underway with federal funding, including a project to determine how to use diesel fuel to power a fuel cell. The U.S. Navy is interested in this project so it can one day put fuel cells on ships.

"If I worked at FuelCell, I would be energized," said Jay Lent, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Union Savings Bank.