FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2003

LARSON FUEL CELL INITIATIVES PASS HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The House Science Committee today approved H.R. 238, the Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act of 2003, which included several key fuel cell provisions authored by U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01).

Specifically, the bill includes a $1.37 billion authorization for hydrogen and fuel cell related technologies, which includes language from Larson's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Authorization bill (H.R. 1395) to authorize the President's $1.2 billion 5-year hydrogen fuel initiative proposed in the State of the Union Address. The bill prioritizes basic fuel cell research and development programs such as stack and system reliability to help accelerate the technology's introduction to the consumer marketplace.

Larson stated: "I would like to thank Chairman Boehlert for his willingness to work in a bipartisan fashion with me to include these important initiatives in the legislation approved by the Committee today. Fuel cell technology is an environmentally sound, reliable energy source produced in Connecticut that holds the potential to stimulate our economy. These programs are key elements to accelerating the introduction of fuel cell technologies for consumers and will also help build the foundation of achieving the goal of energy independence."

Also included in the bill were key provisions based on the Congressman's Energy Independence Act, HR 1830, which he introduced in the 107th Congress. Senator Chris Dodd had introduced companion legislation in the Senate. These provisions include an authorization of up to $200 million for a five-year fuel cell transit bus demonstration program and a grant program to provide 15 geographically dispersed projects to state governments, local governments, or metropolitan transportation authorities for the acquisition of alternative fueled vehicles, including fuel cell vehicles, for a variety of purposes.

The bill is expected to be taken up by the full House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

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Congressman Larson Serves on the House Science Committee