Secretary of Energy Announces Major Hydrogen Demonstration Programs as Industry Event Opens in Washington (press release)

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger Editor of NaturalNews.com (See all articles...) Tags: hydrogen fuel, health news, Natural News

https://www.naturalnews.com/013425_hydrogen_industry_energy.html

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Organized by the National Hydrogen Association, the two-and-a- half day industry conference is serving as the center point for nearly a dozen associated industry meetings and activities in Washington for almost the entire week.

In a special Department of Energy event at the conference shortly before noon, DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman signed recognition agreements with officials from four companies that are primary partners in the federal government's demonstration programs to test and evaluate fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Secretary Bodman also took advantage of the opportunity to inspect technology examples from the four companies: a hydrogen refueler from ChevronTexaco, and fuel cell vehicles from DaimlerChrsler, Ford and General Motors.

Earlier in the morning, and signaling the fast-growing emphasis on hydrogen development by state governments, the conference opened with the Secretary of California's Environmental Protection Agency, Alan Lloyd, describing the importance of hydrogen in California and the importance of Governor Schwarzenegger's California Hydrogen Highway Network, designed to foster public-private partnerships to expand hydrogen infrastructure in the state by 2010 and beyond. A special "Hall of the States" exhibit area at the conference highlights many of the initiatives being launched by states and regional organizations around the country.

"Throughout the world people are searching for clean and sustainable energy, pathways that provide increased energy diversity and energy security. More and more we are seeing that hydrogen has a leading role," said NHA President Jeffrey Serfass. "This week, top government and industry leaders are tackling head-on some of hydrogen's toughest challenges and also reporting on exciting progress."

One measure of progress is the large number of hydrogen vehicles at this week's event. In all, seventeen hydrogen- powered passenger cars, SUVs, buses, and even a scooter and a race car are on hand, with ten of pre-production, demonstration vehicles available for test rides.

The four days of activities in and the conference and expo are touching on virtually every aspect of the industry and the technology. Topics from podium presentations and poster presentations getting discussed during scheduled breaks are the long term strategies by global energy and automotive companies and small business development strategies and tools. Examples of corporate strategic development are seen and demonstrated in fuel cell and internal combustion vehicles, power production from hydrogen for large and small applications, renewable and other advanced production processes, small home hydrogen production units and large central production plants, storage system innovations, safety systems and safety training, codes and standards, demonstration programs around the world, and much more.

NHA's Annual Hydrogen Conference 2005 and Hydrogen Expo USA takes place March 30 - April 1 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. For more information about the event please see http://www.HydrogenConference.org

About the National Hydrogen Association: The National Hydrogen Association (NHA) is the Nation's premier hydrogen trade organization dedicated to supporting the transition to hydrogen. Efforts are focused on education and outreach, policy, safety and codes and standards. Since 1989, the NHA has served as a catalyst for information exchange and cooperative projects and continues to provide the setting for mutual support among industry, research and government organizations. For more, please visit http://www.hydrogenassociation.org