Senate Okays Appropriations Bill Restoring Automotive Hydrogen Research Funds
In a victory for supporters of continued R&D on hydrogen for automotive use, the U.S. Senate has approved an $187 million appropriation for hydrogen vehicle program funding in the 2010-2011 Energy Department Budget.
Thursday's vote effectively thumbs a Congressional nose at Energy Secretary Stephen Chu's decision earlier this year to cut hydrogen vehicle funding from his budget proposal on the grounds that fuel-cell electric vehicles wouldn't be commercially viable for a few decades yet.
Fuel cells use hydrogen to generate electricity, blending it with oxygen and passing the molecules through a platinum-coated membrane to release the electrons. In a vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, the power generated is used to "fuel" an electric motor that moves the wheels.
The House had previously approved the appropriations bill with the restored hydrogen vehicle research funding, and Chu - who favors battery-electric vehicle development - has said he'd work with Congress on the hydrogen issue.
Now it's up to the White House as President Obama - who appointed Chu and who has said he wants to see a million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2012 - has to sign the measure.
Hydrogen watchers say it is likely that the president will sign, to which we say, 'Hooray!'
As we recently reported, automakers say that fuel cell cars are just about ready for prime time and that the big hangup to commercialization isn't the technology but rather the lack of a fueling infrastructure to keep the cars rolling.
Here's hoping some of that $187 million goes to encouraging development of hydrogen fueling systems.
- Posted by
- John O'Dell October 16, 2009, 12:23 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Fuel Cell, Hydrogen
- Technorati Tags:
- Energy Department Budget, Fuel Cell Cars, Hydrogen Research Funding
Chu doesn't have to make deals with Republicans like the Senate does.
(Could be worse, too. At least its not actively harmful like more tar sands.)
I don't see it as a nose thumb, and I'm sure Chu doesn't. The Dems are on the same page as the administration on climate /renewable energy.
$187M is a drop in the bucket, but required for pushing future energy technologies that we will need eventually some day...
Way to go Senate (and this is coming from me, a Republican - albeit a VERY GREEN republican!) :)