Bush Proposes Big Funding Increase for Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

WASHINGTON, Feb 2, 2004; Reuters reported that the Bush administration wants a 43 percent increase in federal funds to develop cars that run on hydrogen fuel and the service stations to support them.

The additional $69 million would bring the program's total funding to $228 million for the 2005 spending year, which begins Oct. 1, under the White House's proposed government budget released on Monday.

The money is part of President George W. Bush's long-term initiative begun last year to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil by developing hydrogen-powered fuel cells to run cars, trucks, homes and businesses.

The emissions-free vehicles would also cut pollution as their only by-product would be water.

The administration wants to have the hydrogen cars in the market and available to consumers at an affordable price near the end of the next decade.

However, many environmental groups say that is too long and believe U.S. oil imports could be reduced quicker if the government significantly boosted the mileage requirements for new gas-guzzling SUVs, pick-up trucks and minivans.