For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 25, 2005
Fact Sheet: Developing Clean and Secure Energy Through Hydrogen Fuel
Today's Presidential Action
Today In Washington, D.C., President Bush Visited The First North
American Retail Hydrogen And Gasoline Fueling Station. The President
has promoted greater energy security through the development of new,
clean, and domestically available fuels like hydrogen.
Background: Greater Energy Security Through Clean Hydrogen
Technologies
Hydrogen Can Provide Long-Term Energy Security Through Use Of
Diverse Domestic Resources. The President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative
and the FreedomCAR partnership will reduce America's need for imported
oil and help clean the air by aiding the development of hydrogen fuel
cells and affordable hydrogen-powered cars. Together, these two
initiatives constitute a commitment of $1.7 billion over five years.
A New Infrastructure Is Needed To Support Hydrogen-Powered Cars.
Two years ago, the President launched his Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to
help develop the technology necessary for infrastructure to produce,
store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel-cell vehicles. Hydrogen
can be produced from domestic fossil, nuclear, or renewable resources.
With Hydrogen Fuel, A Zero-Emission Car Is Possible. The
President's hydrogen initiatives promote development of technologies
that will lead to safe and affordable hydrogen-powered fuel-cell
vehicles that would emit water vapor instead of exhaust fumes.
Turning Hydrogen Fuel Into A Reality. Over the past two years, the
Department of Energy and its partners in the FreedomCAR and Hydrogen
Fuel Initiatives have made tremendous progress toward the President's
goal of enabling today's children to take their future driver's tests
in completely pollution-free cars.
The President's Initiative Has Helped Lower The Cost Of Fuel Cells.
Federal funding for research has helped develop new technologies that
have reduced the cost of automotive fuel cells purchased in high-volume
by more than 25 percent over just the past three years. Though more
work is needed, this brings America closer to its goal of making fuel
cells cost-competitive.
Hydrogen Fuel Has Become More Affordable. New technology has
contributed to a reduction in the cost of natural gas-based hydrogen
production from $5.00 per gallon in 2003 to $3.60 today.
More Than $440 Million In Federal Funding Has Been Awarded For
Research. To bring hydrogen fuel-cell technology from the laboratory to
the showroom, the government is funding research and development
projects designed to overcome critical technology barriers in the
production, transportation, storage, and use of hydrogen.
New Projects Totaling $64 Million In Federal Funding Announced
Today. Over 70 projects at universities and federal laboratories have
been selected to conduct basic research in support of the hydrogen
economy.
New Partners Have Joined The President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives.
Five major energy companies have joined as partners in the FreedomCAR
and Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives, which will help identify and prioritize
the research needed to overcome the technical and economic barriers of
developing hydrogen fuel infrastructure and fuel-cell vehicle
technologies.
The United States Has Organized Support From Around The World For
Hydrogen Technology. Sixteen nations and the European Commission have
joined the U.S.-initiated International Partnership for The Hydrogen
Economy, an international effort to collaborate on hydrogen research
and establish global codes and standards necessary for all countries to
realize competitively priced hydrogen vehicles and fueling
infrastructure by 2020.