Designated as the National Center for Hydrogen Technology (NCHT) by the Department of Energy, this Center of Excellence is conducting technology research, development, demonstration and commercialization projects for the production and use of hydrogen as a practical fuel.

"This project provides a great model for how our Centers of Excellence program can work to create employment and economic development opportunities in North Dakota," Hoeven said. "In partnerships with the private sector, the EERC is leading the way to develop the hydrogen fuel technology of the future. Their research will work to produce hydrogen from fossil and renewable fuels and use hydrogen in combustion engines and turbines to help our nation achieve greater energy independence and security."

The state provided $2.5 million to support construction of a new 15,000-square-foot facility for cutting edge research and development of hydrogen technologies. The EERC has added 17.25 jobs at $944,823 total payroll to lead in the development of our nation's hydrogen economy.

The Center has established relationships with dozens of private sector partners who have provided more than $33 million in matching funds.

Private sector partners include: TXU Generation Company, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Xcel Energy, MN Corn Research Council, ND Corn Utilization Council, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., BMC Construction, North American Coal Corporation, Siemens Power Generation, Inc., SGL Carbon Group, IdaTech, Great River Energy, Rio Tinto, Diversified Energy Corporation, Advanced Biomass Gasification Technologies, Inc., Biomass Energy Solutions, Inc., Xethanol Corporation, Westmoreland Coal Sales Company, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, ePower Synergies, Catacel Corporation, Franklin Fuel Cells, United Technologies, Chippewa Valley Ethanol, Resurface Coporation, Stelios Arvelakis, Electric Power Research Institute, Porvair plc., Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc., Clean Earth Solutions, Inc.

The concept behind a Center of Excellence is to partner North Dakota's university system with private sector businesses. The Centers are investments in the infrastructure and research capacity at state colleges and universities in order to stimulate North Dakota's world-class students and scientists to find ways to commercialize new ideas into products, skills and services. The Centers create and attract new businesses and career-path jobs.

Centers of Excellence throughout North Dakota are leveraging $23 million in state funding with $100 million in private sector support for a total investment of $123 million. A total of 102 private sector companies are participating in the Centers of Excellence program. The Centers have supported 16 new or expanded businesses. Total direct, supported and projected jobs created is 3,500.