Fuel cell firm lays off workers, ends bus leases

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (AP) — A South Windsor company is ending its contract to lease buses powered by fuel cells to the state after laying off between 100 and 170 workers.

The Journal Inquirer reported that David Lee, general manager of CT Transit, which operates the bus system, says ClearEdge Power Corp. gave the state Department of Transportation 30 days' notice it would end the lease and that the state must return the two buses it now leases.

The company has notified the state Department of Labor it is laying off workers. Jennifer Sager, a ClearEdge spokeswoman, says the company is laying off between 100 and 170 workers.

She says the job cuts are part of a workforce reduction by ClearEdge nationwide.

The Oregon company bought what had been a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.