STORRS, Conn. -- At a time when people are out of work across the country, state leaders are trying to create jobs.

Lawmakers met Tuesday to join forces with the University of Connecticut and businesses to develop new sources of energy.

The plan is to create not only jobs, state lawmakers said, but high-paying jobs.

Lawmakers said they’re relying on UConn and business leaders to bring jobs to Connecticut. They said they’re trying to create a training ground for alternative energy, then create an industry for it.

On the outside, the fuel cells they’re working with look like regular generators, state lawmakers said, but inside is the technology of the future.

The fuel cells are being used to heat and cool the new Whole Foods store in Glastonbury, lawmakers said, and the energy they produce is clean and efficient.

In Middletown, a grant helped pay for a huge fuel cell generator at the new high school. As a bonus, the excess energy will even heat the school's swimming pool.

Lawmakers said they recognize that alternative energy is quickly catching on. They said they want to be on the cutting edge.

The University of Connecticut is hiring six top alternative energy researchers to attract students who will hopefully stay in Connecticut and foster a growing industry, said UConn President Michael Hogan.

Two years ago, legislators approved the 21st Century Jobs Act, giving $4 million to UConn to work with private companies like UTC and Northeast Utilities to create a highly skilled work force.