Proton Energy Systems Announces Charles Curtis to join Board of Directors

14 December 1999

Proton Energy Systems Announces Charles Curtis to join Board of Directors

    ROCKY HILL, Conn.--Dec 14, 1999--Proton Energy Systems, Inc announces that Charles B. Curtis has agreed to join its Board of Directors.
    Mr. Curtis is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Hogan & Hartson, where he is Director of the firm's Energy Group. Mr. Curtis served as Deputy Secretary of Energy from August 1995 to May 1997. He was the chief operating officer of the Department of Energy, and its spokesman for domestic energy policy and the restructuring of the electric industry. From February 1994 to July 1995, Mr. Curtis served as Under Secretary of the Energy Department. His responsibilities included environmental cleanup, nuclear energy radioactive waste, and the Department's science and national security programs. From August 1977 to January 1981, he served as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and its predecessor agency, the Federal Power Commission. Mr. Curtis also served as Counsel to the House Commerce Committee with lead responsibility for securities, energy and consumer affairs, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Treasury.
    Mr. Curtis has B.S. and B.A. degrees from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst and a J.D. (with honors) from the Boston University Law School where he served as an editor of the Law Review.
    Walter (Chip) Schroeder, Proton's President, stated "One more measure of Proton's progress is attracting Charles Curtis to our Board of Directors. Mr Curtis brings to us a working familiarity with leading companies in the global energy marketplace. He will make an enormous contribution to our efforts to position Proton within these markets."
    Dr. Robert W. Shaw, Jr., Chairman of Proton and President of Arete Corporation, the company's lead investor, said, "We are delighted to have Charlie Curtis join our Board. He is without question among the top leaders in the world energy community and will bring deep wisdom and experience to the Board's deliberations."

    Founded in 1996, Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures products incorporating Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology. Along with fuel cell-related products, PROTON manufactures a unique line of HOGEN(R) hydrogen generators. Proton(R) generators provide reliable onsite generation of high purity hydrogen at process pressure suitable for a variety of industrial and energy-related applications. More information on Proton Energy Systems is available at www.protonenergy.com.

    Proton and HOGEN are registered trademarks of Proton Energy Systems Inc.