Hydrogen fuel initiative
In his State of the Union speech, President George W. Bush put forth his hydrogen fuel initiative:
- "Tonight I am proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles."
- "A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car producing only water, not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy."
- -- President Bush, State of the Union Address, January 28, 2003.
"President Bush announced a $1.2 billion FreedomCAR and Fuel Initiative to reverse America's growing dependence on foreign oil by developing the technology needed for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells - a way to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses that produces no pollution and no greenhouse gases. The Initiative will invest $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure needed to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation. Building on the FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) Initiative, which was launched in January 2002, President Bush is proposing a total of $1.7 billion over the next five years to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies."
Source: U.S. Department of Energy web site.
Hydrogen Fuel Initiative Can Make "Fundamental Difference". Remarks by the President on Energy Independence, February 6, 2003.
Bush Administration Issues First Certification of a Fuel Cell Vehicle, Environmental Protection Agency News Room, February 11, 2003.
- "Engineers and scientists at the EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., are applying their unique technical expertise to selected fuel cell-related challenges. EPA's Ann Arbor Lab is the first federal facility capable of testing and certifying a fuel cell vehicle for emissions and fuel economy. As a result, the 2003 Honda FCX was the first to be certified as a U.S. hydrogen fuel cell zero emission vehicle. As with any new motor vehicle that will be sold in the U.S., EPA has responsibility to certify each model as complying with all emission standards."
Hydrogen Fuel Initiative Must Find New Name. Freedom Fuel name already used by others, including Amway, a major GOP contributor, February 15, 2003:
- "'IMPORTANT!!! We can no longer refer to the Freedom Fuel Initiative,' John Sullivan, a deputy assistant secretary at the Energy Department, wrote in a memo. 'From henceforth it is to be referred to as The President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Please let all the appropriate folks in your organization know this.'"
U.S.-EU Summit: Cooperation on the Development of a Hydrogen Economy, U.S. Department of State, June 25, 2003.
Congress Acts to Fund Administration's Hydogren Fuel Initiative, July 22, 2003: "As previously reported, the Administration's FY 2004 budget request includes funding to support the President's multi-year, $1.2 billion FreedomCAR and Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. In particular, the FY 2004 budget request proposes that all fuel cell activities be funded through Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations, and all hydrogen production, delivery and storage be funded through the Energy and Water Development Appropriations. This Legislative Alert summarizes the recent action by the House and Senate Appropriations Committee to fund the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen Research and Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative."
Other Related SourceWatch Resources
External links
- U.S. Department of Energy. Office of Fossil Energy: "Hydrogen and Other Clean Fuels."
- Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, U. S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative Info Sheet, March 2003.
- fuelcells.org web site of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council.
- hydrogenrenewableenergy.com web site provides links to Legislation, Industry Groups, Industry Information, and other Fuel Cell Links.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars.
- IdaTech (an IDACORP company) web site.
- "The Hydrogen Hoax" by Robert Zubrin.
- "The Hydra Headed Hydrogen Hoax on future "Freedom" cars".
Headlines
- Shell, GM partner to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a reality, March 6, 2003: "General Motors Corp. and Shell Hydrogen are combining resources to help make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles a commercially viable reality, the two announced yesterday. The partnership combines vehicle expertise with focus on fueling infrastructure."
- Vanderbilt to beef up hydrogen fuel cell research through partnership, Nashville Business Journal, October 28, 2003: "Fuel cell manufacturer PowerAvenue has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering to collaborate on hydrogen fuel cell research."
- Ronald Bailey, Where are the Hydrogen Mines?. Inaccurate power projection in Milan, Reason.com, December 10, 2003.
