Ford Motor Co. has received a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) has announced.

Ford is collaborating with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico on the project, which is designed to "reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and cut harmful carbon emissions," according to a release from the congresswoman.

"Ford is helping lead the nation in the research and development of next-generation technologies that will make our cars cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient," said Dingell. "Today's announcement will help accelerate American innovation in clean energy technologies, and keep Michigan and the U.S. at the forefront of developing the cars and trucks of the future."

The automaker welcomed the funding as a way to advance new vehicle technologies.

"We are pleased that the Department of Energy selected our project," said John Cangany, a Ford spokesman. "The grant will help further our research efforts to develop next-generation technologies for our vehicles."

The hydrogen and fuel cell industry grew by almost $1 billion in 2014, reaching $2.2 billion in sales, an increase from $1.3 billion in 2013. In addition, more than 50,000 fuel cells were shipped worldwide in 2014, according to the department’s 2014 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report.