Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Hydrogen is a proven, effective carrier of energy that has been used
regularly by NASA and the petrochemical community. Today our cars are
fueled with hydrogen enriched gasoline and the automobile industry is
developing fuel cell powered cars operating on hydrogen while the capac-
ity to produce and distribute hydrogen in the United States is growing.
Hydrogen can be a complement to other renewable energy technolo-
gies such as wind or solar because of its unique ability to store energy and
release it efficiently, and should be embraced by all clean energy advo-
cates.
Foreign governments are also investing heavily in hydrogen energy.
Japan's WE-NET program and the Canadian/German direct sponsorship
of Ballard, the pioneer in fuel cell development, are major examples. Ice-
land has made an announcement that it will be implementing hydrogen
energy with government money in concert with Norsk Hydro Electrolys-
ers, DaimlerChrysler, and British Dutch Shell.
There are champions for hydrogen on Capitol Hill and in the cur-
rent administration. These champions see the promise of hydrogen as it
evolves into an American energy commodity changing the economics of
energy around the world.
The support for hydrogen is bipartisan. Hydrogen's inclusion in the
National Energy Policy was important. There are increasing calls for na-
tional hydrogen imperatives of meaningful scale based upon emerging
technologies. The rising tide of a hydrogen vision can result in a firm foun-
dation for implementation. The U.S. Congress has a responsibility to as-
sure there will not be improper regulatory barriers or trade restrictions
that prevent this new American industry from competing internationally.
The Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel, appointed by the Secretary of
Energy, has recognized this as well as hydrogen's unique ability to ad-
dress national security imperatives.
Many U.S. companies are supporting the implementation of hydro-
gen. They can compete effectively on an international basis and build a
real economic force. A key part of our security is to build equipment that
can be exported to our allies. Our industrial base can then enjoy access to
world markets.
Hydrogen could compete economically. Utilization concepts range
from fuel cells to internal combustion with hydrogenated fuels. These of-
fer flexibility without source dependency. As an energy carrier, hydrogen
has some key characteristics: manufactured and stored locally, economic
control over energy and environmental quality.
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