There is growing consensus among House and Senate members and the
Bush Administration that the United States should move toward the use
of hydrogen as an energy carrier, particularly in the transportation
sector. Recent hearings revealed significant support for increased
spending for federally-sponsored research on hydrogen energy, with
this support cutting across political and ideological lines.
It is unusual to hear witnesses from interests as wide-ranging as General
Motors and the Union of Concerned Scientists finding common ground on
an environmental and energy issue. That was clearly evident at a May
7 hearing by the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Transportation and
Space. Subcommittee Chairman Sam Brownback (R-KS) remarked on the rare
level of consensus at the witness table, mirrored in many respects on
the other side of the dais. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) described the
Administration's position on hydrogen energy as "a breath of fresh
air," echoing in spirit many of Brownback's earlier remarks. Brownback
called the research "incredibly important," remarking that
it will not be necessary to sacrifice either the environment or the
economy. Touching on two themes running through both hearings, Brownback
cautioned that "there are many miles [to go] before we sleep,"
adding that the "commitment must be unwavering" to advancing
hydrogen research. Dorgan concluded his remarks by stating, "[President
Bush said] let's move in this direction. I say you bet."
OSTP Director John Marburger told the subcommittee that "Our
ultimate goal is a petroleum-free, emission-free energy future. The
President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, led by the Department of Energy,
proposes $1.2 billion for research over five years (including $181.7
million in the FY 2004 budget request) to overcome the key technology
hurdles to enable a hydrogen-based economy." There are many
such hurdles, as were outlined by DOE Assistant Secretary David Garman
in his testimony. Garman described a series of R&D and commercialization
targets, ranging from mass-market penetration of hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles beginning in 2020 to the transition to a full hydrogen economy
by 2040. He repeated President Bush's remarks in this year's State of
the Union address that "our scientists and engineers will overcome
obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, so that
the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen
and pollution free." Research is also supported by the Department
of Transportation, EPA, DOD, Department of Commerce, NSF, USDA, and
NASA.
These sentiments were repeated in a May 20 hearing by the House
Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Chaired by Rep. Joe Barton
(R-TX), the witnesses at this hearing expressed enthusiasm for
hydrogen energy. Byron McCormick of General Motors Corporation
declared "Now is the time for the U.S. government and U.S. industry
to create a partnership that can lead the world in the charge to
achieve this vision. . . . We were given one mandate by our
management: Take the automobile out of the environmental debate."
At both hearings there was considerable discussion about the need to
capture carbon emissions in the production of an emissions-free
hydrogen supply, and about the appropriate level of government
funding. Garman's comments seemed to summarize the thinking of many
at these hearings when he said, "This is the only technology we
know
of that can change the game," calling the promise of hydrogen energy
the "brass ring."
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