Home > Press Room > Speeches

Remarks

Paul R. Brubaker, Administrator, Research and Innovative Technology Administration
N.H.A. Annual Hydrogen Conference
Sacramento, CA
March 31, 2008

Thank you, Phillip. First, I would like to thank the National Hydrogen Association for inviting me to participate on this panel.

It is an exciting opportunity when you can hold a dialogue with a group of panelists, and participants, who are so influential in our efforts to move our nation towards a hydrogen economy. Thanks to Bill and Steve for their leadership.

Acceleration was a word Phil used; that’s why we’re here, and the reason for today’s theme.

“Government as early adopters” is not just a topic that will guide my remarks this morning, it is a statement of relevance — a recognition that positive change always requires a catalyst. Some of the greatest endeavors of our nation, and our world community, would never have been accomplished unless someone had unequivocally asked, “Why not?”

Anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.”

“Why not?” is the question President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked when he envisioned a system of roads that connected states and towns across our vast country — born out of his experience as an Army logistician in the 1920’s, knowing how difficult it was to move goods across the nation’s roads.

With his signature on the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, he committed the U.S. Government to investing in the development of a transportation system that would revolutionize the American economy and way of life for decades to come.

Though it was costly and ambitious, the Interstate Highway System laid the foundation for free enterprise to spur the unprecedented growth of post-war America.

In the 1960’s, President John F. Kennedy declared that America would send a man to the moon. Achieving success was not just a matter of national pride. This would be a defining statement to the world that the United States is a nation committed to technological leadership on a global scale.

The work that went into planting an American flag in lunar soil resulted in far more than symbolism; it paved the way for innovations such as the microchip, new durable materials and the hydrogen fuel technology we are here to talk about today. Talk about government as an early adopter -- NASA has been successfully using hydrogen technology for over 40 years.

So what's next? What is the next big question? What is the catalyst?

We in this room recognize that hydrogen fuel gives us the opportunity to transform our transportation system from one that supports vehicles dependent on foreign oil, to one of the highest efficiency and lowest environmental impact.

We also know that the natural resources needed to produce hydrogen on a commercial scale are both abundant and sustainable, so it offers great potential as a long-term strategy for our nation’s energy security. So, how can government as an early adopter help turn potential into reality?

President Bush’s Hydrogen Initiative has been our catalyst. It has directed $1.2 billion dollar toward the successful development of commercially viable Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles, and an infrastructure that can support them. DOT is committed to supporting the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative in three key areas:

First; ensuring the safety of hydrogen as both a commercial fuel and product moving across the spectrum of the nation’s transportation systems. This includes efforts to develop regulatory guidelines and industry standards. DOT is collaborating with the Department of Energy and the EPA to evaluate existing and emerging hydrogen technologies in order to determine regulatory needs.

Second; leading the research, development and demonstration of hydrogen fuel powered medium and heavy duty vehicles, such as buses, trucks, rail and aviation systems. Programs like the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Bus Initiative are coordinating efforts to conduct Hydrogen demonstration projects in public transit.

Lastly; working with other federal agencies, state and local governments to guide the development and deployment of a hydrogen infrastructure.

We are also working with other federal agencies and associations to promote the use and deployment of hydrogen technology.

We are currently working with the National Association of Counties and the General Services Administration to explore deploying hydrogen vehicles to federal fleets as well as to select counties, but we need the help of industry to speed this deployment activity.

We must also seek to strengthen our partnerships with government, academia, industry and other hydrogen thought leaders to accelerate deployment of both infrastructure and vehicles.

There must be a sense of urgency -- especially in light of our current global environment and the unprecedented growing global demand for oil. We need an alternative that is clean, abundant, and sustainable. This will require focus, investment and commitment by all.

My office is developing an alternative fuels roadmap that is outlining details of our Department's approach to making this vision a reality that will include next steps for action in regulation, adoption and investment. We plan to release this roadmap this summer.

We must all do our part -- the American public may not be aware of it, but this is critical. Our future national economic well being may be dependent upon it -- Lest someday -- history will render its verdict with those two terrible chilling words -- too late.