With an estimated $1 million local impact, the hydrogen meeting will be the first national business or trade association meeting booked into the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center since it was completed in September 2004.

But more importantly to South Carolina’s economy in the long run, it’s an acknowledgment the state has “a lot going on” in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

“A lot of people are very impressed with the resources in South Carolina and the level of activity for developing hydrogen technologies,” said Patrick Serfass, spokesman for the National Hydrogen Association.

“We all want to learn about that and make sure that we are involving S.C. businesses and companies in the hydrogen industry as much as they can be.”

Landing the 20th Annual Hydrogen Conference — the largest hydrogen conference in the country and the longest running annual hydrogen conference in the world — was a statewide effort led by the S.C. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.

While the principal meetings will be in Columbia, other parts of the state will be involved, said Fred Humes, alliance chairman.

One of the things that sparked the association’s interest in coming to South Carolina was the Center for Hydrogen Research in Aiken, along with the work being done by the Savannah River National Laboratory, Humes said.

The association intends to hold an event at the Center for Hydrogen Research before or after the annual meeting, he said.

‘SOMETHING SPECIAL’

An estimated 1,200 people will attend the four-day meeting March 31-April 3, 2009, as well as pre- and post-meeting sessions that will be held in Columbia and other places around the state.

The total economic impact should be at least $1 million said Steve Camp, president and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism.

“This is the kind of meeting and convention that we dream about,” Camp said. “This is what we have been striving for. It is a good reward for all the hard work.”

The attendees will stay at the new Hilton hotel scheduled to open next year at Senate and Park streets across from the convention center in the Congaree Vista, as well as other hotels in the area.

The availability of the convention center hotel was a key part of the city’s being able to land the meeting, Camp said.

The University of South Carolina’s role also was critical.

Tony Boccanfuso, USC’s director of research and economic development, is on the National Hydrogen Association’s board of directors.

Having the meeting in Columbia, he said, “clearly demonstrates that people outside the state recognize that South Carolina has a lot going on as it relates to hydrogen research, development, procurement, deployment and demonstration.

“We were able to convince the National Hydrogen Association staff who visited that we have something special going on here.”

PUBLIC INTEREST

The annual hydrogen meeting usually is held in a larger city. The 2006 meeting was in Long Beach, Calif.; the 2007 meeting will be in San Antonio; and the 2008 meeting will be in Sacramento, Calif. Columbia beat out Albuquerque, N.M., for the 2009 meeting.

In addition to the attendees, Serfass said the conference generally attracts about 100 exhibitors.

The conference is about three days long with side events and workshops held before and after, Serfass said. “It ends up being about a week of hydrogen activity.”

While it is an industry conference, over the past couple of years it has begun to attract more public interest.

One of the main attractions is the “Ride and Drive,” Serfass said, and one of the largest displays of hydrogen vehicles in the country.

Columbia Mayor Bob Coble probably will be first in line for a test drive.

“This convention will clearly put Columbia on the map for the hydrogen economy,” Coble said.