Tim and Rhonda Bekkedahl, founders and owners of BekkTech, based in Loveland, Colorado, are pioneers.  Together they are in the process of establishing the first private, independent fuel cell testing facility in the nation.  Making use of their extensive backgrounds in fuel cell technology and business/accounting, the Bekkedahls currently offer a consulting service to analyze and test fuel cells.  As their business grows, they will provide a full service facility that will draw clients from all over the world.
 
   CEO Tim has a degree in engineering physics from The School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and more than 10 years' experience working with fuel cells, photovoltaic cells and hydrogen storage issues.  He spent eight years at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden and two years with International Fuel Cells in Connecticut.
 
   CFO Rhonda has a degree in business with an emphasis in accounting from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.  She is a CPA and has worked at Deloitte and Touche and as a controller in the healthcare and telecommunications industries for eight years.
 
   "We hope to create a testing facility that will employ 20 people in three to five years," Tim says.  He explains that fuel cell manufacturers find testing expensive, time-consuming and a distraction from their primary task.  While there are university and national laboratories who do testing, BekkTech provides these services with no risk to the intellectual property of their clients.  BekkTech will also provide clients with warranty information required before a fuel cell can be placed on the market.
 
   Fuel cell manufacturers are located on the East and West coasts and Tim hopes the presence of BekkTech will help open the Colorado market.  He describes the Delta-Montrose Electrical Association (DMEA) in rural Colorado as one of the leaders in the state in promoting the use of fuel cells for home and commercial use.  DMEA is in the process of installing a fuel cell for the Washington Park Firehouse in Denver, Colorado, and DMEA will be exhibiting at the World Congress for a Hydrogen Economy November 1-4, 2001.
 
   In addition to use in automobiles, fuel cells are becoming more and more viable for providing energy for homes and businesses.  This is particularly true in rural areas where fuel cells are often more cost effective than traditional methods of energy distribution.  A unit the size of an air conditioner can provide energy for heating electrical needs for a residence.  Fuel cells are also in demand where back-up generators are needed.
 
   Strong advocates of a transition from fossil to alternative fuels, especially hydrogen, the Bekkedahls are enthusiastic about the future of their fledgling business and look forward to being part of the Colorado community involved with this effort.
 
   The Hydrogen Now! organization salutes this innovative pair.  For more information about Hydrogen Now, a non-profit agency dedicated to the establishment of a hydrogen economy, call 1-866-GO-H2-NOW or contact hydrogennow@hydrogennow.org (website: www.hydrogennow.org). 
 
   Reach BekkTech at:  time@bekktech.com or rhonda@bekktech.com.

For more information contact: Heather Jarvis, Hydrogen Now! 1-866-GO-H2-NOW 
or website: www.hydrogennow.org, e-mail: hydrogennow@hydrogennow.org