Rep. Walker Introduces $100 Million Hydrogen Bill
February 1995/Vol X/No. 2
ISSN 1057-0713
WASHINGTON DC - True to expectations, incoming House Science Committee Chairman
Robert S. Walker (R-PA) introduced a new three- year $100 million hydrogen bill in late
January that, if passed, would significantly expand the U.S. hydrogen program.
Walker, a long-standing hydrogen supporter who had been predicted to move quickly
on new hydrogen legislation (THL Dec. 1994), said in his extended Floor remarks
while "hydrogen holds the greatest promise as an environmentally benign renewable
energy source" that will "play a major role in the energy mix of the future.....it faces
large technical hurdles, particularly in production and storage, that must be overcome.
"The Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program has also been plagued in the past by
rather erratic funding profiles, which have limited its effectiveness," he added.
The "Hydrogen Future Act of 1995" will focus Federal hydrogen research on the basic
scientific fundamentals needed "to provide the foundation for private sector investment
and development of new and better energy sources and enabling technologies without
adding to the budget," he explained. "The bill, while allowing modest increases in the
hydrogen authorization, requires corresponding offsets to pay for this research by
freezing the overall Department of Energy research and development account.
H.R. 655 would authorize $25 million for fiscal year 1996, $35 million in FY 1997,
and $40 million in FY 1998. This is less, both overall and on average, than the $312
million over five years - 1995 to 2000 - for hydrogen contained in the bill's
predecessor, last year's "Hydrogen and Fusion Research Authorization Act of 1994"
(THL Aug. 1994) that died in the Senate. Still, it would be significantly more than the
annual $10 million currently appropriated for hydrogen r&d (Sept. 1994).
A Capitol Hill staffer explained that Walker "wants to take a rational approach to
hydrogen research and development. He also wants a realistic bill in consideration of
budget constraints - something that he thinks that can pass."
Current Efforts are "Inadequate"
H.R. 655, characterizing the current Federal hydrogen fuel development effort as
"inadequate," states its goal is the demonstration of the "technical feasibility" of
efficiently using hydrogen for transportation, industrial, residential and utility
applications by the year 2000. Another goal is to "foster industry participation.......to
ensure that technology transfer to the private sector occurs to develop viable,
marketable products."
In production, the bill calls for at least two technical demonstrations each in areas
such as chemical conversion, including photoproduction, bioconversion and
electrolysis. In storage, at least one technical demonstration is envisioned in hydrides
and porous materials, liquefaction and cryogenics, compressed gas and advanced
materials such as microspheres and new materials.
In transportation, the bill stipulates research and development of an "economically
feasible, low emission motor vehicle using hydrogen, in pure form or mixed with other
fuels," and "an economically feasible, zero emission vehicle using hydrogen."
Demonstrations, Cost-Sharing
The bill also calls for at least one technical demonstration each in areas such as
electricity generation using hydrogen as a fuel source for utility and industrial
applications; heating and cooling; and a hydrogen fuel jet engine.
In terms of financing, the bill asks for cost sharing from non- Federal sources of at
least 20% of the project for r&d programs. The requirement may be waived or
reduced if r&d is basic or fundamental. For demonstration projects, at least 50% must
come from non-Federal sources, but this requirement may also be reduced if the
reduction is "necessary and appropriate."
The bill also mandates that the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel (HTAP) present
an annual "detailed report" on the status and progress of DoE's hydrogen program,
beginning 18 months after the date of enactment. The panel is also called upon to make
recommendations for improvements to the program, including recommendations for
additional legislation.
Ervin Generally Supportive, but Finds Parts "Overly Restrictive"
At a February 1 hearing on the bill, Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said DoE generally supports the bill but believed it
tended to be "overly prescriptive" and urged more flexibility. Ervin also urged that
picking any demonstration projects should be based on "recommendations and
willingness to cost-share by industry.
She also objected to language that would repeal sections of the Matsunaga Act giving
priority to hydrogen production technologies based on renewable energy resources,
and she said the administration "strongly opposes" caps on obligations for energy
supply r&d through 1998, a $3 billion budget item. "This would affect complementary
programs in renewables, or in fuel cells that directly would affect the effectiveness of
the hydrogen program," she said.
Alan Lloyd, chief scientist for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said
he supports the thrust of HR 655 but believes it could be strengthened. "The principal
reason that we strongly support hydrogen is our pressing need to for zero- and
near-zero-emission technologies to restore healthful air in the Los Angeles basin," he
said. Investment in hydrogen technology is "a strategic investment in America's
continued status as an economic and technology powerhouse," he added. "Major
metropolitan areas all over the world are in need of fuel cells and other
hydrogen-related technologies to mitigate pollution problems. America must be
prepared to capitalize on this vital and burgeoning world market for clean
technologies or be left behind."
Lloyd also suggested establishment of strategic "demonstration corridors" linking
various hydrogen subsystems to an overall systems demonstration. In California, there
is a proposal to link ten hydrogen-related projects in a "desert-to-the-sea"
demonstration. He also urged setting up a Hydrogen Technology and Utilization Office
within DoE, and, to assure maximum cooperation with the private sector, an external
office, such as a Hydrogen Industry Consortium.
Robert H. Williams, senior research scientist at Princeton University's Center for
Energy and Environmental Studies, noted that in the long term, renewable energy will
play a much bigger role, accounting for as much as one half of primary energy
consumption, with much of the expansion likely to take place in developing countries,
coupled to mushrooming environmental challenges.
Huge reductions in carbon dioxide emissions will likely have to be made, and nearly
pollution-free fuel cells and hydrogen are a much better approach than
difficult-to-maintain control devices - "bandaid" technologies. With energy research
drastically down and still declining, both at DoE and in the energy industry itself,
Williams believes "the U.S. is not gearing up an energy R&D effort commensurate
with the challenges posed by the energy needs of the 21st century."
In general, Williams suggested energy R&D should focus on policies that are
"inherently safe and clean," technologies that avoid our overdependence on Middle
East oil, and technologies that are relevant to the needs of developing countries.
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