POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) - Groundbreaking technology could be on the way to Pooler.
500 Seabrook Parkway could be the spot for an EV and hydrogen fueling station.
John Northup is the attorney representing Capitol Development Partners. He presented plans for the development at the Pooler City Council Meeting on Jan. 6, bringing up people's safety concerns.
"Hydrogen, despite the fact that it's a new technology, can be as safe or safer as many of the other fuels that we currently use today," Northup said.
The station would service environmentally friendly trucks, including Hyundai's rollout with Glovis America.
An estimated 20-30 trucks would be fueled per day, according to Northup, most of them from the Hyundai Metaplant.
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While hydrogen is highly flammable, Northup says there are benefits.
"It's zero-emission... the only emission from an engine that burns hydrogen is water vapor, which is obviously a lot better than burning fossil fuels," he said.
Like all things, there are safety regulations. According to Northup, the trucks can detect hydrogen leaks. Pooler Fire Chief Wade Simmons says if handled correctly, fire concerns can be minimized.
A similar fueling station is in Camden County, and council members visiting that site. So far, there have been no problems at that station.
The Pooler project would be the first of its kind in the area, offering both hydrogen fuel and EV charging all in one facility.
Northup says they are looking to accelerate the development to support the fast-growing Hyundai plant.
Northup says another plus to hydrogen, is that it's easy to make it.
"You've got improved air quality, you've got energy efficiency, you've got lower noise pollution because these things are a lot quieter than your standard trucks," Northup said.
A town hall meeting will be held soon, where the public can ask questions about this facility.
The date and time have not yet been announced.
News 3 did reach out to Pooler Mayor Karen Williams for comment, but she declined.