Empire State Development: Praxair Niagara Falls to increase hydrogen production

Empire State Development has announced Praxair Inc. is expanding its business and building a steam methane reformer to increase the supply of hydrogen for its liquid hydrogen plant in Niagara Falls. This investment will not only retain 78 jobs, but also serve growing customer needs for hydrogen in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., and southeastern Canada. Empire State Development, the state's economic development agency, will provide a $1 million capital grant to assist the company with its facility and equipment investment.

"Praxair is making this investment in response to growing customer requirements and the development of new applications," said Jeff Barnhard, vice president of Praxair's industrial gases business in the U.S. East Region. "Additionally, this investment further diversifies our sources of hydrogen and results in distribution savings."

"Praxair helps companies improve their environmental performance by developing and embracing the technologies needed to make plants operate more cleanly and efficiently," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams. "We are proud to support Praxair as it expands its business and creates and retains jobs in New York state."

Customized trucks deliver liquid hydrogen to customers in a wide range of industries, including the manufacturing of metals, lubricants, glass, liquid fuels, solar technology, chemicals and food products.

Niagara Falls benefits from relatively low-cost and sustainable electric energy produced by local hydroelectric turbines. When complete in 2015, Praxair's Niagara Falls liquid hydrogen production capacity will increase 50 percent.

Congressman Brian Higgins said, "Praxair maintains a strong presence in Western New York as a major employer of quality jobs and a valuable community partner. Growth and continued investment in their Niagara Falls facility is good for the city and region as a whole."

State Sen. George Maziarz said, "Praxair's capital investment in Niagara Falls, and the state's partnership, helps solidify the company's importance to Western New York. Praxair's commitment to the region is to be commended, and it is a great example of how low-cost, locally produced hydropower can help our businesses and our economy grow."

Assemblyman John Ceretto said, "It's always great news when I hear of a company's expansion plans in the Niagara Region. It is even greater news when it is a company like Praxair, which provides good-paying manufacturing jobs. I will continue to partner with Gov. Cuomo and Praxair to continue to develop our workforce skills and encourage companies of the stature of Praxair to locate in our region. The future of Niagara Falls today is brighter and we've only just begun."

City of Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said, "Niagara Falls has a long history of utilizing the power of the falls for energy. Praxair builds on this legacy, harnessing energy and supplying it to companies around the world. I applaud Praxair for choosing to expand its business in Niagara Falls and thank the governor for recognizing Praxair's importance to the area."

Praxair, a Fortune 250 company with 2013 sales of $12 billion, is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies strive to make this planet more productive by bringing efficiency and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals,food and beverage, electronics,energy,health care, manufacturing, metals and many others. More information about Praxair is available at www.praxair.com.