Rep. Fattah Commends Bloom Energy, Delaware Officials for Turning Energy Innovation into Jobs

PHILADELPHIA, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies, and a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, issues the following statement:

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"We have good news and bright prospects for the Philadelphia region in terms of green energy jobs and innovative technology transfer.

"The wise choice by Bloom Energy to expand into the Greater Philadelphia area with a fuel cell manufacturing plant at Newark, Delaware, is the latest example that innovation plus public-private partnering equals jobs, jobs, jobs. The Bloom Energy Server, aka the Bloom Box, is based on technology used by NASA. Our government spends hundreds of billions on such research and development, but transferring these technologies to the private sector is lagging. I have introduced legislation to assist smart 21st Century businesses in bringing those innovations to market.

"Manufacturing and deploying fuel cells provide an outstanding model for winning the future. I recently toured the fuel cell plant of a Bloom competitor in Connecticut and saw a fuel cell that is powering a supermarket in that state. Bloom's plan to develop the old Chrysler plant site in Delaware will move this growing industry into our backyard.

"Philadelphia is already a major player in the green jobs economy of tomorrow. The Philadelphia Navy Yard serves as a renewable energy hub, the first in the nation. I have been working with Mayor Nutter to promote this status– specifically to bring GE's proposed solar panel manufacturing facility to the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

"Now it's time to congratulate Bloom Energy, Governor Jack Markell, Congressman John Carney, the University of Delaware and other partners for cutting the deal to bring 900 high-tech fuel cell jobs and an expected 600 supplier jobs to our region.

"There's still work to be done. As an Energy appropriator, I pledge to support in the Congress any and all efforts by Congressman Carney and other Delaware officials to finalize the Bloom Box project. Then we continue the momentum as we grow American manufacturing by innovation and technology transfer."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah