Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act of 2005, a bill to amend the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1990. A reauthorization of the Matsunaga Act is badly needed. I have introduced bills in the 106th Congress, in the 107th Congress jointly with my friend Senator Harkin, and in the 108th Congress to reauthorize the essential hydrogen research and development programs in the Department of Energy. The core provisions of these bills were included in each of the omnibus energy bills, whether we were in the majority or in the minority, suggesting widespread, bipartisan agreement that we need a robust hydrogen program for the future.
As a founding member of the Senate's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues to draft this bill and am pleased to be an original cosponsor. The Caucus has heard from a wide variety of interest groups, engineers, and scientists providing input on the potential for a "hydrogen economy." The Caucus, under the able co-leadership of my colleagues Senator Dorgan and Senator Graham, has actively solicited input from fuel cell producers and councils, automobile manufacturers, oil and gas companies, utilities, university research institutes, the Department of Energy, and national associations. The recommendations of the National Commission on Energy Policy and the National Academy of Sciences were instrumental in developing this bill.
I am more convinced than ever that we need to move now to reauthorize the Matsunaga Act and to refine and enhance the Department of Energy's responsibilities while maintaining strong oversight over the progress of the activities. We cannot delay the move to a "hydrogen economy."
Mr. President, this bill does several things that are important for the management of hydrogen programs in the Department of Energy and will help move the nation toward using hydrogen as an energy source in our daily lives. It provides greater focus for the hydrogen fuel cell technology research and development programs without losing the focus on renewable sources of hydrogen. It emphasizes factors that are critical to the development of hydrogen infrastructure and the supply of vehicles and electric power. It directs the Secretary to carry out activities to improve technology with the goal of cost reduction, particularly for hydrogen production, the supply of hydrogen, storage of hydrogen, and the end uses of hydrogen. The bill authorizes $200 million for hydrogen supply and $160 million for fuel cell technologies in Fiscal Year 2006. It emphasizes the importance of enhancing sources of renewable fuels and biofuels for hydrogen production, a factor that is critical to remote areas and island states such as Hawaii where we need local sources of energy.
This bill is a realistic one, providing specific footpaths to the hydrogen economy domestically and internationally. The bill acknowledges that transportation and the availability of reasonably priced cars may be the first market break through for the hydrogen economy. Title II authorizes demonstration programs through the Department of Energy for fuel cell systems for mobile, portable, and stationary uses. Demonstrations are a critical component of moving a product to market. Title III of the bill, "Transition to Market," succinctly states the goal of this section. Section 301 authorizes Federal procurement of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen energy systems. This provision is intended to stimulate the market by requiring the Federal government, the largest single user of energy in the United States, to adopt hydrogen technologies as soon as practicable. Energy savings are an important part of this title. The Department is required to collect data on energy savings as a result of this program and to evaluate whether the program is achieving energy savings.
Lastly, Mr. President, this bill provides important directions to the Secretary to address the development of safety codes and standards relating to fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen energy systems, and stationary, portable, and micro fuel cells. This provision recognizes the importance of public acceptance of hydrogen as a safe and secure energy source; and it recognizes the industry's needs for standards of safety codes and standards for hydrogen energy systems whether stationary, mobile, or portable. The bill does not require the standards to be developed "in-house" within the Department of Energy, but importantly authorizes the Secretary of Energy to enter into cooperative agreements, grants, and contracts with industry groups and with the cooperation of the federal interagency Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Task Force.
Mr. President, I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support this bill.
