“The purpose of H2Education is to raise public awareness about hydrogen because education is a huge step toward implantation. As more and more people understand the technology, they will push what is possible and create a market for clean power and transportation”, said lead developer Niels Maumenee.

"I think it's a fantastic tie for Montana because it ties technology, K-12 education and two-year education programs all together in one project," said Paul Williamson, the dean of the College of Technology. "It's a really well-done Web site, and it opens up a portal for us to do a lot more things like this in the future."

The public announcement was held at the UM College of Technology with Governor Brian Schweitzer as the featured speaker. Governor Schweitzer has long been a proponent of alternative fuels and sees a hydrogen based economy as an attainable goal. The Governor also pointed out that Montana possesses abundant coal resources that may be used in creating viable alternative fuels today.

In closing, Niels Maumenee remarked, “Children being born today will live in a world where the hydrogen economy will be as real to them as the petroleum economy is to us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to prepare them for the future. H2Education is just one piece in the puzzle of creating a hydrogen literate population.”