LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) has been part of many hydrogen fueling station dedication ceremonies around the world, but today's event held at its headquarters campus was a special one. In front of an enthusiastic crowd of employees, elected officials, invited guests and media, Air Products, the leader in hydrogen fueling and infrastructure development, officially commissioned its new hydrogen fueling station and two hydrogen-powered buses as part of a Hydrogen Education Initiative.

The Hydrogen Education Initiative, funded largely by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will be managed by the Da Vinci Science Center of Allentown, Pa. The program is to promote energy independence, a cleaner environment, and educate the public on the benefits of, and advancements in, developing a hydrogen economy. The FTA will use hydrogen research data gathered during the demonstration project to help guide future efforts across the nation.

"We greatly appreciate the work of the Da Vinci Science Center in seeking the funding for the fueling station and the two hydrogen-powered buses as integral parts of this research and education program. The opportunity to get hydrogen-powered transportation vehicles out into any community will go a long way in educating the public about hydrogen and its capabilities," said John McGlade, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Air Products.

"There is a clear need to develop economic, safe, and environmentally-friendly transportation fuels and to promote their use," said Dr. Robert A. Fox, associate director and director of education for the Da Vinci Science Center. "The Da Vinci Science Center is proud to assume a leading role in this vital national dialogue." Fox cited a National Research Council and the National Academy of Engineering report recommending the federal government develop and introduce safe and clean fueling systems that use hydrogen as a way to reduce American dependence on traditional energy sources and combat global climate change. An FTA objective is to identify potential barriers to adoption of these technologies -- such as a lack of public awareness about them.

In addition to the hydrogen fueling station at Air Products and the hydrogen-powered buses, to be based at Air Products and the nearby campus of Lehigh Valley Hospital, the Da Vinci Science Center will be producing a learning program to educate people about hydrogen's safe, clean, and effective use as a transportation fuel. "We are excited about contributing to Da Vinci's program and joining Lehigh Valley Hospital in using these buses in the greater Lehigh Valley at community and special events as part of the educational outreach program. We believe there will be a strong level of interest from the community," said David J. Taylor, vice president -- Energy Businesses at Air Products.

Dr. Elliot Sussman, president and chief executive officer, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, said the hydrogen-powered bus is another step in the health network's continuing efforts to protect the environment. "We take the footprint we leave on the Earth very seriously," Sussman said. "That's why we're taking steps to tread lightly on the environment; steps which include the construction at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest becoming the first hospital in the northeast region of the country to achieve LEED certification for 'green' buildings, and a new recycling initiative at all three of our hospital campuses. The hydrogen-powered bus is yet another way for us to do our part in protecting our environment while educating thousands of people each day about the benefits of hydrogen, a fuel of the future."

More information on the project can be found at www.HydrogenFutureToday.com.

Air Products has been involved with hydrogen fueling since 1993. Since that time, it has safely conducted over 72,000 fuelings of hydrogen powered vehicles at over 90 fueling stations located in 15 countries around the world. Air Products' technology is currently being used to conduct approximately 2,000 hydrogen fuelings per month.

Air Products, the leading supplier of merchant hydrogen to the refinery industry to assist in the making of cleaner burning transportation fuels, has placed a majority of its hydrogen fueling station technology in 17 states within the United States. The Lehigh Valley site is the second hydrogen fueling station in Pennsylvania, the other located in State College on the main campus of The Pennsylvania State University. On a global basis, Air Products' has hydrogen fueling technology in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Air Products has provided both liquid and gaseous hydrogen fueling at varied pressures including 700 bar (10,000 psi) at numerous locations. At most fueling stations, the hydrogen is delivered to the site via truck. At stations using both Air Products' permanent hydrogen fueling technology and its mobile hydrogen fueler, the hydrogen has been generated by on-site natural gas reformation, as well as through electrolysis, wind and solar means.

Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy technology development. Air Products is a leader in the development of the hydrogen infrastructure necessary to fuel hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen internal combustion engine, and HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural gas) vehicles. Air Products has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50 patents in hydrogen dispensing technology.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About Da Vinci Science Center

The Da Vinci Science Center is an independent non-profit organization that promotes hands-on science learning through inquiry, highlights vibrant and important career opportunities in science available to every young person, and encourages all people to be curious and creative. The Da Vinci Science Center delivers these opportunities through its dynamic exhibit floor -- which features more than 200 hands-on exhibits -- its professional development programs for teachers -- including its signature Da Vinci Teacher Leader Institute program for elementary teachers -- its public programming, and its outreach programs -- including its Visiting Scientist Laboratory (VSL) programs, After-School Laboratory Programs (ASL), Visiting Classroom programs, and its new Motorola After-School Program. The Da Vinci Science Center stresses the inquiry method. Utilized by scientists and recognized as the most effective way to learn, the inquiry method encourages questioning, experimenting actively, observing, communicating results, and connecting all knowledge. For more information, click www.davinci-center.org.

About Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network

A premier academic community hospital, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network includes three hospital facilities -- two in Allentown and one in Bethlehem, Pa. -- and Lehigh Valley Health Services, providing home health, hospice, pharmaceutical and health management services. These three hospitals have nearly 1,000 beds, 1,100 physicians on staff, 2,300 registered nurses, and are the area's largest employer with a workforce of more than 9,500. LVHHN's advanced regional resources include a Level I Trauma Center with added pediatric qualifications; a regional referral Burn Center for critical care burn patients; national certification as a Primary Stroke Center; the largest cancer program in the region and fourth largest in Pennsylvania; the Regional Heart Center - the second largest heart program in Pennsylvania based on volume; and an Advanced ICU with teleintensivists to provide an extra level of care for critical care patients. One of Pennsylvania's largest teaching hospitals and a major teaching campus of Penn State's College of Medicine, LVHHN is also a regional resource for kidney and pancreas transplants, perinatal/neonatal care and neurology and complex neurosurgery. All three LVHHN hospitals are designated national Magnet hospitals for excellence in nursing. Additional information is available at www.lvh.org.

***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.

SOURCE Air Products