Avista Labs (Spokane, WA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avista Corp. (Spokane, WA), announced a strategic supply agreement in which Avista Labs will purchase membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) exclusively from 3M Company (St. Paul, MN) for integration into its commercial fuel cell products. The agreement enables reduced and competitive product costs, which will immediately benefit Avista Labs customers.
3M will supply MEAs for use in Avista Labs' 250 and 650 Series fuel cell cartridges, which are integral components in the company's Independence™ product line. The terms of the agreement call for 3M to provide Avista Labs with all of its requirements for commercial MEAs through June 30, 2004.