GM closing fuel cell plant outside Roch

DETROIT (AP) - General Motors Co. plans to close its hydrogen fuel-cell research operation near Rochester, N.Y., and move it to Michigan.

The company said Friday that most of the 220 salaried workers in Honeoye (Hun-ee-OY) Falls, N.Y., will be offered the chance to move to GM's engine and transmission research unit in Pontiac, Mich.

Spokeswoman Kimberly Carpenter said the move will pull together all of its experts on ways to move vehicles. The company will save some money by not renewing a building lease in New York. The move will take place early next year, she said.

GM will continue to focus on electric vehicles and fuel cell development, Carpenter said. The automaker has been testing fuel-cell vehicles that run on hydrogen with no harmful emissions.