Groundbreaking of the system, which will be the first of its kind in New England, began on October 26. Project completion is scheduled for late spring 2005.

Multiple Maine companies and organizations have collaborated and donated their time to draft the system plans which met all applicable fire and safety codes. OEST Associates, Inc. of South Portland, created the site plans and structural engineering drawings; Fire Risk Management, Inc., in Bath, provided technical expertise to meet code requirements; Results Engineering, Inc. of Saco, designed the electrical control system; Maine Oxy of South Portland and Auburn, offered design recommendations; The Hydrogen Energy Center of Portland and The Chewonki Foundation designed the overall system and provided project management support.

Peter Arnold, Chewonki's Pathways Project Coordinator praised the project, saying, "This partnership between forward-looking businesses and the nonprofit sector to educate the public about hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels has proven very powerful. I am proud that our work together will move the United States one step closer to a solution to climate change."

Calen Colby, P.E., Senior Project Manger of OEST Associates, said, "Every engineer has a civic duty to protect the public and the environment. Helping ensure that the design of this hydrogen power system is safe and environmentally clean has been very rewarding to me personally and professionally."

The hydrogen demonstration system being installed at The Chewonki Foundation's Center for Environmental Education will allow for renewably generated electricity to power an electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen from water.

The hydrogen will be stored until it is needed to provide electricity during power outages or demonstrations. Upon demand, the hydrogen will flow to fuel cells installed inside the Center. The system will store enough hydrogen to provide four days' backup power to the Center. Details about the project may be found at www.chewonkih 2.org

The Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project was conceived as an educational demonstration to show how hydrogen is generated, stored, and then used as a fuel. Educational materials and programs being developed as part of this project will be available for students, educators, engineers, builders, government leaders, public safety officers and others with an interest in learning about hydrogen technology and the role it may play to address global warming. Hydrogen information will also be added to Chewonki's Renewable Energy Tour. Tours may be arranged by contacting Peter Arnold at 207-882-7323. All tours must be scheduled in advance.

The Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project is a partnership between the Hydrogen Energy Center of Portland and the Chewonki Foundation of Wiscasset, both 501 (C) (3) non-profit organizations. Major funding for the project has been provided through grants from the Maine Technology Institute and the Renewable Resources Matching Fund.