"One of our main goals is to raise awareness about fuel cell technology and its benefits," said freshman Dan Dademo, 14. "If the technology became more available, we could decrease global warming and our dependence on oil."

Dademo and more than a dozen students recently formed the Fuel Cell Awareness Coalition after a field trip to the Global Fuel Cell Center at the University of Connecticut last month. The center is one of the largest fuel cell research facilities in the country.

Members of the coalition held a press conference at the school Friday to talk about the technology and provide a demonstration of how water is turned into usable hydrogen gas. The students placed two electrodes, powered by a solar panel, in a glass of water. The electricity separated the water into its two components, oxygen and hydrogen gas.

"A hydrogen-powered car could drive more than 16 miles on one cup of water without producing any pollution," Dademo said, adding a gasoline engine is 25 percent efficient, while a hydrogen-powered engine is 75 percent efficient.

Students involved in the coalition created a brochure that describes the benefits of hydrogen fuel and how it can be created. Coalition members are also planning to distribute petitions through the school that will be forwarded to the appropriate local and federal agencies.

Coalition member Danielle Librandi, 14, said several companies, including Toyota and General Motors, have already developed vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel cells. However, the vehicles cost in excess of $400,000, she said, adding more money is needed to research the technology.

"We are looking to lower the cost of the technology so that more people can afford it," Librandi said. "I don't understand why more people aren't talking about the benefits of fuel cell technology."

The students also addressed concerns that hydrogen-powered vehicle could be dangerous and prone to explosions. "A hydrogen-powered car is actually less dangerous than a gasoline-powered car," Shaba Lyons, 14, said.

He said hydrogen is lighter than air and an explosion would rise up and away from a vehicle. Lyons added that gasoline, which is heavier than air, travels underneath a vehicle when it explodes.

George Benedetti, a former engineer who teaches science classes at the high school, said he couldn't be prouder of his students for taking such a passionate interest in fuel cells.

"What good is knowledge if you can't put it to good use?" he said.

For more information on fuel cell technology and ongoing research efforts, log onto www.ctfuelcell.uconn.edu.