Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing.

I would like to comment on S. 1053, a bill that reauthorizes the Hydrogen Future Act, enacted in 1996. It directs the Department of Energy to continue research and development of hydrogen technologies.

This bill is important to the nation because hydrogen has the potential to free our nation from imported oil and provide a clean and abundant energy source. I have had an abiding interest in hydrogen as an energy source and have championed its advancement for a long time. The Hydrogen Future Act is a legacy of my friend and predecessor in the Senate, Senator Spark Matsunaga. He was the first to focus attention on hydrogen by sponsoring hydrogen research legislation. The Matsunaga Hydrogen Act, as the legislation became known, was designed to accelerate development of hydrogen technologies. As a result of Senator Matsunaga's vision, the Department of Energy has been conducting research that will advance technologies for cost-effective production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen.

I am convinced that in the next few decades, hydrogen will join electricity as one of our Nation's primary energy carriers, and hydrogen will ultimately be produced from renewable sources. Technical and institutional challenges and barriers to wider use of hydrogen are being surmounted at an accelerating pace on a global scale. Iceland is making a strong bid to become the world's first hydrogen-based economy. In the United States, I am pleased that the State of Hawaii has enacted legislation that would facilitate a public-private partnership for promoting hydrogen as an energy source. In California, the state's zero emissions vehicle requirements favor early introduction of hydrogen powered vehicles.

Despite the progress, many challenges remain for hydrogen. Production costs remain high, attractive low-cost storage technologies are not available, and the infrastructure is inadequate. We need to address these barriers if we are to enjoy the fruits of an efficient and environmentally friendly energy source. An aggressive research, development and demonstration program can help us overcome many of these problems.

I hope the Committee will move quickly on this bill, and I look forward to the testimony of the witnesses.