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4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 BIZ BRIEFS Danbury-based FuelCell Energy unveils 'Tri-gen' system at Toyota port in Calif. Danbury-based FuelCell Energy has completed a first-of-its-kind system that produces three products – renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen and usable water – at Toyota Motor North America Inc.'s port facility in Long Beach, California. The Trigeneration Direct Fuel Cell Power Plant produces 2.3 mega- watts of electricity to power on-site operations, with surplus energy going into the grid that feeds the local community. In addition, the "Tri-gen" facility produces 1.2 tons of renewable hydrogen daily, to power five heavy- duty fueling stations for Toyota. It will be Toyota's first port vehicle processing facility 100% powered by renewable electricity generated on-site. FuelCell Energy has contracted with Toyota to supply Tri-gen prod- ucts under a 20-year purchase agreement. The equipment is owned and operated by FuelCell. Eastern CT chamber launches innovation center, co- working hub The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut has opened a new Innovation/Co-Working Center that provides startups and other businesses with administra- tive support and office space in New London. The chamber's Innovation/ Co-Working Center — located in the same building as its headquarters, at 92 Eugene O'Neill Drive — offers nine office spaces available for rent, in addition to collaborative worksta- tions and desks. A single desk office for one person costs $750 a month; a double costs $950; and a space for up to three people costs $1,250 a month, according to the chamber. In addition to office space, chamber officials said the new center will serve as a startup incubator. First cannabis dispensary workers unionize in CT Employees at a Connecticut cannabis dispensary have union- ized, making it the first recreational marijuana retail shop in the state to employ union workers. Twelve workers at Caring Nature Dispensary in Waterbury officially formed a union with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 919, the organizing group said. The employees join two cultivation facilities that have also formed unions. In August, more than 70 employees at Rocky Hill-based cannabis grower and producer CT Pharma formed a union. CT Pharma and Caring Nature are both owned by Chicago-based Verano Holdings. Forty-eight workers at Advanced Grow Labs, owned by Chicago-based multistate cannabis operator Green Thumb Industries, also unionized in May. Connecticut's adult-use cannabis law requires companies to sign labor peace agreements, ensuring they won't prevent employees from organizing. Barnes Group acquires U.K. manufacturer for $740M Bristol-based manufacturer The "Tri-gen" facility at Toyota Motor North America Inc.'s port in Long Beach, California. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Barnes Group's Main Street headquarters in Bristol. PHOTO | COSTAR Barnes Group announced it has completed a $740 million purchase of a U.K. aerospace manufac- turer in one of the company's largest-ever acquisitions. Barnes Group said it has acquired MB Aerospace, a provider of precision aero-engine compo- nents and repair services serving major aerospace and defense engine companies. Barnes said it financed the deal with cash and debt, and that the acquisition will add approximately $110 million in annual sales. MB Aerospace will maintain its corporate headquarters in Moth- erwell, U.K., with an additional 10 facilities and about 1,450 employees across the U.S., U.K., Poland and Taiwan.