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By Bay City News Service The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has approved $2.2 million to complete 12 hydrogen refueling stations in the Bay Area, BAAQMD officials said today.

The air district expects the stations to be operable early next year. The Bay Area already has three stations. The 12 stations to be completed will be located in Berkeley, Campbell, Foster City, Hayward, Los Altos, Mill Valley, Mountain View, Oakland, Redwood City, North First and North Fourth streets in San Jose, San Ramon, Saratoga, South San Francisco and Woodside.

BAAQMD officials expect hydrogen technology to reduce Bay Area greenhouse gas emissions. Air district spokesman Tom Flannigan said vehicles are the largest source of particulate matter or smog in the Bay Area. Air district officials have set a goal of reducing Bay Area greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050, according to a 2013 resolution.

"This is one of the efforts we're taking on to accomplish that," Flannigan said.

He said the $2.2 million is supplementing the cost of the stations, which are mostly being paid for with $50 million from the California Energy Commission and money from three project sponsors.

Flannigan said only about a dozen hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are in use in the Bay Area now. Two vehicle models are currently available for lease in California, according to www.fueleconomy.gov.