Apr. 17--COLONIE -- Two local fuel cell companies are benefiting from the federal stimulus package.

Especially MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. on New Karner Road, which has been awarded $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for commercialization of its methanol fuel cell for handheld electronics.

MTI Micro, a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology Inc., is on the verge of being able to take the fuel cell, known as Mobion, to the marketplace. But cash flow has been a problem.

In an annual report filed last month with the Securities and Exchange Commission, MTI said it had only enough cash on hand to operate the subsidiary until the end of this month.

MTI Chief Executive Officer Peng Lim could not be reached for comment Thursday. But the company also said in a statement that board member Walter Robb and another, unidentified investor have given MTI Micro an $800,000 bridge loan.

Robb, a former General Electric Co. executive who now is an "angel" investor in local companies, has already extended $2.7 million in loans to MTI Micro.

Meanwhile, Plug Power Inc. in Latham said Thursday that it received $6 million from two Department of Energy grants for its GenSys and GenCore hydrogen fuel cell systems.

The company, which is trying to become profitable, also said customers of its GenDrive fuel cell systems for fork lifts have received federal grants that will enable them to purchase 304 units. The units will be installed in warehouses and distribution centers in Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.

"We couldn't be more happy," said Plug spokeswoman Teal Vivacqua. She did not know how much money those orders would bring to the company.

She said a $3.4 million grant will be used for testing Plug's GenSys combined heat-and-power systems for residential and light-commercial customers in southern California.

A second $2.7 million grant will be used to test Plug's GenCore fuel cells that have been used for backup power.

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