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The 15,000-square-foot NCHT facility was dedicated on Friday, September 5, 2008. Construction
on the $3.5 million project began on April 17, 2006. The facility is designed to significantly
enhance the strategic research, development, testing, and commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies at the EERC. The building includes specialized state-of-the-art equipment to provide
solutions for the world's growing energy needs and, at the same time, opportunities for regional economic
growth.
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"This facility provides a cornerstone to address this nation's enormous challenge of developing new
technologies to guarantee the country's energy security for the long-term," said EERC Director Gerald
Groenewold. "Hydrogen is not only a key bridge to energy security, but also a key solution to
managing our carbon footprint."
The dedication ceremony included remarks from North Dakota Governor John Hoeven; U.S. Senator Byron
Dorgan; U.S. Senator Kent Conrad; and U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy. Comments were also made by
Groenewold, Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown, East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss, North
Dakota University System Chancellor Bill Goetz, and University of North Dakota President Robert Kelley.
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General Motors (GM) provided four Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicles for the public to ride in and/or
drive on Friday, September 5, 2008, as part of the NCHT building dedication. The vehicles are
powered by GM's fourth-generation hydrogen fuel cell system. The vehicles use no petroleum, and zero
greenhouse gases are released. Chevrolet has launched a market test fleet of
100 Chevy Equinox electric vehicles in large metropolitan areas such as New York
City; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, reception, and self-guided tours of the facility followed the dedication.
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