HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y. – Congressman-elect Eric Massa sat down with the engineers that are developing General Motors’ fuel cell vehicles in Honeoye Falls. Massa believes this technology is crucial to the survivals of the U.S. auto industry and the jobs it will create.

“We have some 400 here that will expand into hundreds of thousands as we revolutionize the American automobile industry,” Massa said. “This is not a pie in the sky promise. This is a certainty withheld only by political will. I have the political will. It’s up to me to take that message to Washington.”

GM has a fleet of 100 fuel cell vehicles that are being test driven in different markets around the country. Those cars have fourth generation fuel cells. Work continues in Honeoye Falls to make the fuel cell less expensive, smaller and more durable.

“The vehicle technology that we’re working on here is coming along very, very well. And I think in the next generation, as we go forward over the next four or five years, that will be able to go into a production vehicle engineering process and be ready to come to market,” said Gary Stottler.

These fuel cell cars will become even more important, especially here in New York State. In his proposed budget for 2009-2010, Governor David Paterson proposed tweaking the gasoline tax.

The American Petroleum Institute ranks New York’s gas tax as the highest in the country. With the state in an economic crisis, it’s believed the gasoline tax will only increase.

“I hope to bring Governor Paterson and his entire staff here so he knows firsthand that right in New York, we are the epicenter, This is the brain and the heart and the soul of the future of the American automobile engineering and frankly, I’m convinced and I think anybody that see this right here in Monroe County,” Massa said.

To drive home his point, Massa says he would like to drive up to the U.S. Capitol for his swearing in ceremony next month in a GM fuel cell vehicle.