The City of Lancaster, California, announced today its partnership with Choshu 
Industries Corp. of America (CICA), a Yamaguchi, Japan-based global leader in 
R&D, solar energy power stations, environmental equipment, semiconductors and 
hydrogen technology and power solutions. The partnership will initially seek to 
integrate Choshu's "SHiPS," a containerized hydrogen production and refueling 
station system, and "MizTomo," a stationary fuel cell power system, into the 
City's Green Energy Microgrid (GEM) system.

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"Since the City of Lancaster announced its goal to become the first Hydrogen 
City in the United States, we have made steady progress and today marks the 
next phase of our vision," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. "We are excited 
to partner with Choshu Industries on our GEM system, which will add a hydrogen 
backbone to the system's solar and battery capabilities, all driven by Choshu's 
advanced artificial intelligence."

The "SHiPS" and "MizTomo" systems deployment represent the first projects of 
Lancaster's partnership with Choshu. These systems can be scaled to extend the 
City's hydrogen capacity to other sectors. Choshu and Lancaster will explore 
additional opportunities to supply hydrogen to commercial users and to support 
the city's fleet goal. "Lancaster has committed to having the first 
all-hydrogen municipal fleet in the United States. We plan to replace 
Lancaster's current fleet of passenger vehicles with new hydrogen vehicles as 
leases on gas vehicles expire" said Parris. Additionally, Lancaster is engaged 
with several hydrogen refueling station providers to develop a network of 
passenger and heavy-duty vehicle stations.

The event was commemorated by the agreement signing at the official residence 
of Japan Consul General Akira Muto in Los Angeles, and joined by CICA CEO Sean 
Chigusa with greetings and congratulations from Tadashi Mogi, Deputy Minister 
of METI Japan, Renewable Energy at METI Japan, Norihiko Saeki, Executive 
Director of JETRO Los Angeles, Lex Heslin, Senior Project Developer of Hitachi 
Zosen Inova, Takehito Yokoo, Senior Executive Engineer of Toyota Motor North 
America, and Emily Desai, Deputy Director of International Affairs and Trade of 
the State of California.

Parris is a fifth-term Republican mayor who transformed Lancaster into a 
renewable energy leader over the past decade by attracting more than $2 billion 
of investment in cutting-edge green companies and technologies. Investors 
include BYD, which manufactures electric buses; Heliogen, which generates 
hydrogen from concentrated solar energy; SGH2, which gasifies wastepaper into 
hydrogen; and Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), which converts organic waste into 
renewable natural gas and hydrogen. The city also started its own utility 
company, Lancaster Choice Energy, allowing residents to choose local renewable 
energy at lower prices.

SOURCE: City of Lancaster, California

CONTACT: Jenn Seguin, +1-661-723-5987