Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act of 2005

HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2005

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to announce my support for an important piece of legislation recently introduced by Senator DORGAN and Senator GRAHAM, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act of 2005.

This legislation lays out a bold vision for the energy future of our Nation. It takes steps to secure the research, development, demonstration and market transition necessary to deliver on the tremendous promise of a ``hydrogen economy.''

The economy of this country today depends heavily on oil, much of which we must import from countries with hostile and dangerous regimes. This dependence on foreign oil threatens our national security, our economy and the environment. We must take the steps now to find alternative sources of energy and new ways of powering everything from cell phones to cars. This bill does exactly that.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act funds the research and demonstration needed to develop key aspects of a reliable, renewable hydrogen economy. The bill incorporates language from the Hydrogen Passenger Vehicle Act, which I introduced earlier in this Congress to provide funding for projects to demonstrate the cost-effective production and distribution of hydrogen from renewable sources, such as ethanol. The bill also adopts several proposals from my Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Energy Act, including support for hydrogen transportation corridor demonstrations, such as the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative.

This legislation will fund development of better fuel cell technology, of lighter, more efficient ways to store hydrogen on board vehicles, and of less expensive ways of converting renewable energy to hydrogen fuel.

It updates the language and sets clearer priorities for the existing hydrogen research program under the Matsunaga Act, and adds important demonstration, commercialization, and market driver mechanisms, using Federal Government procurement to help drive demand for new technology.

In order to be most effective, however, we will need to enact the tax incentives necessary to encourage widespread investment, production and utilization of hydrogen. Tax credits for fuel cell vehicles, for hydrogen fueling infrastructure, for hydrogen fuel from renewable sources, and for stationary and portable fuel cells should all be considered as part of a package of support for the hydrogen economy.

The measures proposed in this legislation will require a significant Federal investment in our energy future, but with these measures, we can use hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to realize our vision of cars that do not pollute, of power that will not go out, and of true energy security. I urge the support of my colleagues for this visionary legislation.

http://thomas.loc.gov/