U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) has introduced legislation to accelerate the ongoing efforts for the development of hydrogen as a fuel for America's long-term energy needs. S. 3196, the Hydrogen Future Act, would reauthorize and expand research and development of hydrogen production, storage, and use. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Frank Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman and Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Harry Reid (D-NV).
"All indications suggest that record-breaking prices paid at the pump this summer will continue through the winter and affect energy costs for all Americans," Akaka observed. "The way to reduce our dependence on oil imports and improve our energy outlook is to adopt energy conservation, encourage energy efficiency, and support renewable energy programs. Above all, we must develop energy resources that diversify our energy mix and strengthen our energy security. Hydrogen is an efficient and environmentally friendly energy carrier that can be obtained using conventional or renewable resources. It could satisfy a wide variety of the world's energy needs."
S. 3196 reauthorizes the Hydrogen Future Act and adds provisions for the demonstration of hydrogen technologies at government facilities. It emphasizes the potential of hydrogen as an efficient and environmentally friendly source of energy, the need for a strong partnership between the Federal government, industry, and academia, and the importance of continued support for hydrogen research. It promotes private sector investment and cost sharing in the development of hydrogen as an energy source.
The legislation authorizes $250 million over the next five years for research and development of technologies for hydrogen production, storage and use. This will allow advancement of technologies such as smaller-scale production systems. It also authorizes $50 million to conduct integrated demonstrations of hydrogen technologies at governmental facilities The demonstrations will test the viability of hydrogen production, storage, and use. This will facilitate development of hydrogen-based operating experience acceptable to meet safety codes and standards.
Hydrogen as a fuel is not a new concept. For more than two decades there has been global interest in hydrogen as a renewable fuel. Progress is being made at an accelerating pace. Fuel cells for distributed stationary power are being commercialized and installed in various locations in the United States and worldwide. Transit bus demonstrations are underway in both the United States and Europe. Major automobile companies are poised to deploy fuel cell passenger cars within the next few years. All these activities involve government and private sector cooperation.
Many problems and challenges remain before we can realize the full potential of hydrogen as a renewable energy source and join electricity as one of our Nation's primary energy carriers. Hydrogen production costs from both fossil and renewable energy sources remain high. Attractive low-cost storage technologies are not available and the current infrastructure is inadequate. S. 3196 authorizes an aggressive research and development program to deal with many of these challenges, including bringing down the production costs from fossil and renewable sources, advancing storage technologies, and addressing safety concerns with efforts in establishing codes and standards.
"My predecessor, Senator Spark Matsunaga was one of the first to focus attention on hydrogen by sponsoring hydrogen research legislation," Akaka noted. "The Matsunaga Hydrogen Act accelerated development of domestic capability to produce an economically renewable energy source in sufficient quantities to reduce the Nation's dependence on conventional fuels. It authorized the Department of Energy to conduct research on technologies for cost-effective production, storage, and utilization of hydrogen. The Hydrogen Future Act of 1996 expanded research and development under the Matsunaga Act. It authorized activities leading to production, storage, transformation, and use of hydrogen for industrial, residential, transportation, and utility applications. S. 3196 builds upon these accomplishments.
"We are a long way from realizing our objectives for hydrogen energy. I am introducing this legislation in the closing days of the 106th Congress to alert all interested organizations, individuals, businesses, and agencies that we must begin working now to address this issue early in the next session. We need to support a sustained strategy that focuses on the development of technologies that enable distributed electric-generation fuel cell systems and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for transportation applications. By supporting the development of hydrogen technologies, we will usher in an era where a non-polluting energy source reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The price we will pay for development of clean and renewable hydrogen technologies is minuscule compared to the benefits."
