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Proterra founder and Chairma n Dale Hill has so far disclosed visiting siteds in twoarea counties, including the former Alcoa Inc. aluminum smelting plant in Stanly County. He also likexs Iredell County. Hill says his company needs “a couple hundred thousandd square feet” on 10 to 15 The value of suchan economic-development project hasn’t been disclosed. Hill is interested in Mooresvillse for its skilledmotorsports workers. But the area lackas existing buildings that fit the Hill says. The Alcoa plant in Badin alsohas challenges. “It would take a lot of cleaningg up toconvert it,” Hill says.
“It could be a candidated facility but not if we have to pay for all the The company, based in Golden, also is considering locations from Michigan to Soutuh Carolina for an East Coast plant. Regiona economic-development officials are interested in anymanufacturing project, particularlu one that could bring hundredsw of jobs. “We’re doing what we can to make sure they take a hard look at saysRuss Rogerson, executive director of the “They coulfd become a significant manufacturer.” Economic-developmenty officials in Stanly County couldn’t be reached. Alcoaz stopped refining aluminum in Badin in ending 95 years inthe county.
Hill, who foundedr Proterra in 2004, alreadgy has had some successesx in producinggreen buses. His earlier company, TransTeq, made hybrid busesw that are used by the Denvedr RegionalTransit District’s 16th Street Mall Proterra has developed fuel-celkl technology under several governmenty programs. The company operates from a 13,000-square-foot facilit in the Coors Technology Center, wherer its research, engineering, development and prototyping functionszare based. Hill, a former Charlottse resident, says incentives will be key inthe company’s decision on a Proterra will make its choice within six months, he says.
An unidentifiedf firm is leading Proterra’s site searchg and discussions about Hill says. “We will go wherd the incentives are therew toattract us.” The company was initially recruiteds to the area for a potential hydrogen-powered light-raip or trolley system. Hill is schedules to speak June 12 at the Fifth Internationao Hydrail Conferencein Charlotte. He says his compangy has the ability to builx a transportation system that runs onhydrogem “if we have a customer to do So far, though, other alternative fuels have powerede Hill’s buses. “Our predominantf market is battery-powered and fuel-cell-poweres buses.” Its fuel-cell bus sells for $1.
7 million and its battery-electrix bus sells for $1.2 million, Hill says. Both have zero emissions. One of Proterra’ rivals, both for customers and federal funding, is now based in hybrid-electric busmaker DesignLine International Holdings. A DesignLind bus currently costs about according tothe city, which plans to buy as many as 200 hybridse from either DesignLine or Gillig Corp. of San Francisci by fiscal 2012. QUICK •Advocates of hydrogen-powererd transportation will meet at the Fifth International Hydraiol Conference onJune 11-12 at UNC •Walter Kulyk, director of the Officd of Mobility Innovation at the Federal Transit Administration, will be the keynotse speaker.
•Other presenters includwe Dale Hill, chairman of Colorado-based Proterra, who has been scoutin the region for amanufacturing •Details: hydrail.org
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