Hitting this benchmark will trigger the release of an additional $2 million pledged by the state for the university’s Eminent Faculty program, a public-private partnership backed by the legislature.

The combined state funding and industry match will allow UConn’s School of Engineering to recruit world-class researchers and additional faculty members who have expertise in the area of fuel cells and other forms of sustainable energy.

The school will use the funding not only to pioneer new energy technologies, but also to create a training ground for the energy workforce and entrepreneurs of the 21st Century, fostering innovative spin-off opportunities.

The donating companies are FuelCell Energy of Danbury, the Northeast Utilities Foundation and UTC Power of South Windsor.

“Connecticut has a rare opportunity to provide national leadership in the development of viable, sustainable and environmentally sound energy alternatives, including fuel cells and biofuels,” said UConn President Michael Hogan. “We will do this as part of a focused partnership between the university, the state and industry.”

Late last year, the General Assembly established a permanent line item of $2 million annually to support the initiative at UConn, contingent upon the university securing a match from industry. The initiative is expected to help Connecticut meet Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s goal to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 20% and replace it with clean or renewable energy sources by 2020.

“This collaboration between the state legislature and the University of Connecticut represents the best we have to offer: a commitment to creating and maintaining our competitive advantage in cutting-edge technologies, and a huge investment in the research and development of energy-efficient fuel cells, of which Connecticut is a global leader,” Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. said.

“The partnership exhibited today represents not only an investment in the fuel cell industry, but also serves as an example of how government, higher education, and industry -- working together -- can be a catalyst to improving Connecticut’s overall economy and truly building Jobs for the 21st Century.”

“We are indebted to our partners for their vision and sense of purpose,” said UConn Provost Peter Nicholls.

“These organizations are pushing energy innovation in new directions. With their support, the eminent faculty initiative in sustainable energy at UConn will propel Connecticut and the university to the forefront of sustainable energy development and industry while fostering a visionary green energy economy.”

“When we received the proposal from the School of Engineering, we immediately knew it fit perfectly with Northeast Utilities Foundations' three strategic areas for investment - economic development, workforce development and environmental stewardship," said Raymond P. Necci, president and chief operating officer of The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) and Yankee Gas. 

"Surely, by enabling the field's brightest minds to teach at UConn, we will attract a class of promising young engineers.”

“We are very pleased to have been part of UConn’s and the state’s efforts to raise the funds for the Eminent Faculty for Sustainable Energy program,” said Chris Bentley, Executive Vice President of FuelCell Energy, Inc.

“FuelCell Energy has always had a strong commitment to advancing Connecticut’s technology community and the efforts of the faculty program will clearly complement the development of sustainable fuel cell products.”

“We are delighted to support this ambitious initiative,” said Tom Jarvi, director, technology development, at UTC Power.  “To retain leadership in fuel cell technology, Connecticut must be able to provide top-flight R&D capabilities, fundamental research results, and college grads ready for the industry.  There is no better place to deliver on such expectations than our state’s flagship university.”

UConn’s School of Engineering has a number of energy-focused units under its wing, including the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center and the Biofuels Consortium, whose scope of research and development activities will complement the broader mission of sustainable energy initiative. Both entities work closely with Connecticut’s energy industry.

FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers.  FuelCell Energy’s secure, ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC® fuel cells are generating power at over 60 installations worldwide.  The company’s power plants have generated more than 150 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer, onion, and milk processing as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels.  FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers, trading companies and power companies around the world.  The company also receives substantial funding from the US Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as hybrid fuel cell/turbine generators and solid oxide fuel cells.

The Northeast Utilities Foundation, established in 1998, has proudly supported charitable partners in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire with total donations of more than $10 million. For more information on the Northeast Utilities Foundation, visit www.northeastutilitiesfoundation.org. The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) has been part of everyday life in Connecticut for more than 100 years, providing safe and reliable electric service to homes, neighborhoods and businesses.  With nearly 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns, CL&P is an active member in the communities it serves, offering programs in energy conservation, economic development and environmental education.  CL&P is part of the Northeast Utilities System (NYSE: NU).  For more information, please visit www.cl-p.com.

United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., (NYSE: UTX) provides high-technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.  Its UTC Power unit in South Windsor, Conn., is a full-service provider of environmentally advanced power solutions.  UTC Power is a world leader with nearly 50 years experience in developing and producing fuel cells for on-site power, transportation, space and defense applications, as well as a leader in innovative renewable energy solutions and combined cooling, heating and power solutions for the distributed energy market.