Connecticut Congressional delegation calls on DOE to release remaining $15 million grant funds for fuel cell project

The Connecticut Congressional delegation recently called for Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to release the remaining funds of a $15 million grant awarded to the Danbury-based FuelCell Energy, Inc. for a fuel cell technology project aimed at reducing emissions from coal and gas-powered plants.

Currently, only $3 million of the $15 million in commitments has actually been awarded to the company. According to the Congress members, the project cannot be completed without the remainder of the grant.

“Of the $15 million commitment from the Department, $2 million was obligated at the time of the award, and an additional $1 million followed in August of 2016. Since that time, no funds have flowed to the project, leaving a $12 million commitment from the federal government unobligated,” the members wrote in a public letter to Perry. “…“This project highlights American innovation and manufacturing, and it will directly support U.S. manufacturing jobs.”

The members pointed to a recent decision by the department to provide assistance for the research and development of fuel cell technology at Plant Barry in Alabama, which was the first utility-scale demonstration of the technology’s effectiveness at reducing emissions.

“The Barry, Alabama project will demonstrate carbon capture from natural gas-fired power generation as well as from coal-fired power generation,” the members said. “After two years of laboratory tests, this megawatt-scale demonstration project is a critical research project for our economy and our environment.”

The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Reps. John Larsen (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Elizabeth Etsy (D-CT).

Secretary Perry has yet to formally respond to the delegation’s request.