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Moving Towards a Hydrogen Economy

Today the U.S. imports over 60 percent of its oil from some of the most troubled parts of the world, including the Middle East. Our dependence on this oil has increased the price that consumers pay for gasoline and other essential goods and services. In fact, the Department of Energy has indicated that because of the volatility of the regions where we get this oil, oil prices carry a “terrorist premium” of $10 per barrel. That simply means we pay an additional $10 per barrel because we cannot get the oil from any other place.

We cannot simply dig and drill our way out of our dependence on foreign oil. Instead, we must come up with a long-term strategy that will leap over all the problems we are encountering today and I believe hydrogen is the answer. Hydrogen will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, while at the same time reducing the pollutants we put into our environment. These benefits are why I introduced the Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Technology Act of 2005. I am pleased that this measure was included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which became law this year.

This legislation would invest $7.9 billion over 10 years in hydrogen fuel cell research and deployment. Additionally, the measure would change the current direction of the hydrogen program, allowing each program related to developing hydrogen to build off of each other. Similar to what has been recommended by the National Academies, it realizes a more conscious systems approach to program design.

Currently the hydrogen program is like a series of small block grants. We send money to the Department of Energy (DoE) and simply tell them to come up with a program. Under this scenario, with little accountability or direction, the program has not moved as swiftly as we would like.

Changing the structure of the hydrogen program will ensure that the long-term goal is reached and the benefits are reaped. What this legislation does is compartmentalize each program at DoE related to hydrogen development. Instead of sending a chunk of money, the funds will now be targeted to programs that will be the foundation for building and commercializing a hydrogen fuel-cell economy.

This measure does not re-invent the wheel. Instead, it takes what we have learned thus far and focuses our efforts for the future. Providing developmental targets and accountability will also allow us to adjust our priorities appropriately.