Bulletin: New Energy Bill Authorizes Billions for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

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New Energy Bill Authorizes Billions for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies

WASHINGTON, DC, July 31 - The huge new energy bill that finally made it out of Congress last week after years of bickering and stalemate includes what look like unprecedented funding levels for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

President Bush is expected to sign the $14.5 billion, ten-year bill some time this week. The 1,724-page bill authorizes (but does not yet appropriate) $2 billion over five years for research and development for hydrogen supply and fuel cell accounts programs within the U.S. Department of Energy; $1.3 billion also for five years for hydrogen demonstrations covering vehicles, stationary and portable applications; $38 million for five years to support the development of safety codes and standards for fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen energy systems and stationary, portable and micro fuel cells as well as educational efforts, according to a summary of the provisions made available to H&FCL by the U.S. Fuel Cell Council.

Included in the Vehicles and Fuels title is a $105 million authorization over three years to encourage states and federal purchases of fuel cell vehicles; $450 million for market transition programs for stationary, portable and micro fuel cells as well as hydrogen energy systems; and the creation of a $50 million five-year fuel cell bus demonstration bus program plus a three-year $75 million fuel cell school bus program.

In addition to these provisions the bill includes a host of other items that in one way or another address hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the context of pipeline construction, low-cost hydrogen from renewable sources for vehicle propulsion, advanced coal gasification, hydrogen production at existing nuclear power plants in addition to funding for next-generation nuclear power plants, fuel cells for aircraft, tax incentives for both residential and business fuel cells and for alternative vehicle fueling stations and others.

The bill also establishes a new 16-member U.S. Commission on North American Energy Freedom to be appointed by the president with members knowledgeable in various energy areas, including fuel cell technology.

(A full report on the energy bill will be carried in the next September issue of “The Hydrogen &Fuel Cell Letter”).

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