The donation was to Leonardo Academy Cleaner and Greener program.
Emissions reductions or offsets are created from actions such as utilizing fuel cells, installing more advanced pollution control technology, switching to cleaner fuels, improving energy efficiency, and increasing renewable energy use.
Emissions trading occurs when an entity takes an emissions reducing action and then transfers ownership of the emission reduction to another party. Alternatively, organizations can offset the pollution caused by their energy use by buying and retiring the emission reduction credits created by someone else.
FuelCell said it was expected emissions trading programs would foster the development of cleaner power generation technologies such as fuel cells.
The donation offset emissions associated with the Energy 2004 workshop and exposition held earlier this month in Rochester, New York. Emissions associated with the conference include pollution from direct energy use during the event as well as indirect pollution related to such items as airline travel for the more than 1300 attendees.
The emissions donation made the event Cleaner and Greener certified.
"The ability to trade emissions credits from an investment in ultra-clean technology can provide a powerful incentive to site fuel cell power plants as a means for utilities or energy using entities to comply with air quality standards," said FuelCell Energy senior vice president of marketing and sales Herb Nock.