Fuel Cells – A Technology We Can All Agree On

WASHINGTON--National organizations representing health, environmental and energy policy interests joined four national trade associations today in calling for the restoration of the federal hydrogen and fuel cell research and deployment program.

“Fuel cells are essential to achieving national goals for energy security, sustainability and global competitiveness,” the organizations wrote in a letter to the House and Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee leadership.

The seven groups are the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), American Lung Association (ALA), Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), The Stella Group, Ltd, the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC).

The Obama Administration’s 2010 Department of Energy (DOE) budget proposes to cut the federal hydrogen fuel cell research and deployment budget by more than two thirds, or $130 million, eliminating funds for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle program and market transformation programs.

The organizations wrote that “attaining our national goal of sustainable transportation will require a diverse portfolio of advanced vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles should be part of our portfolio.”

“Industry, academic researchers, and the Department of Energy, working together, have achieved substantial success in addressing technology, infrastructure and cost challenges. Real world data collected by DOE and others confirms that fuel cell vehicles are inherently low in smog-causing emissions, cut carbon emissions by more than half and achieve nearly 60% efficiency, which is two to three times the fuel economy of comparable combustion vehicles,” they wrote.

“We need to maintain momentum in the hydrogen fuel cell pathway…We urge you to maintain U.S. leadership in developing and deploying fuel cell transportation by restoring fuel cell funding to FY 2009 levels,” they wrote.