Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucus announces "End Dependence Day"
Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucus announces "End Dependence Day"
Caucus to Hold Inaugural Event, June 28 at Noon
Congressman John B. Larson and fellow organizers will roll out their newly-formed House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus Tuesday, marking the occasion with a declaration of "End Dependence" from foreign oil.
The caucus is a bipartisan group of House and industry representatives dedicated to promoting hydrogen and fuel cells as an alternative to overseas petroleum. Along with Larson, the caucus's primary organizers include Reps. Albert Wynn (D-MD) Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Bob Inglis (R-SC).
The "End Dependence Day" kick-off will begin at noon at the corner of C and South Capitol Streets. It will feature civilian and military hydrogen vehicles, a mock fueling station and displays from industry representatives.
"America has always championed self-reliance," Larson said. "In relation to our energy policy, that is the direction we must follow. Forward-thinking companies have already given us a viable alternative to foreign oil. Our national security, economy and environment rest on our ability to break our dependence. Just as our government has encouraged other technologies, its needs to invest in the development of fuel cells and hydrogen power so we can become energy self-sufficient."
Unlike oil-powered engines whose emissions of heat-trapping gases are polluting the skies and warming the earth's atmosphere, fuel cells do not harm the environment. Moreover, developing American-produced, hydrogen-powered fuel cells as a major source of energy to run cars, buses, trucks, homes and businesses would stimulate the economy through new job creation.
According to the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, if just 20 percent of cars used fuel cell technology, we could cut oil imports by 1.5 million barrels every day. Moreover, the council estimates that continued investment and increased use of fuel cell technologies will result in the creation of 169,000 to 189,000 jobs by 2021.
Fuel cell manufacturers in Connecticut include UTC Power in South Windsor, Fuel Cell Energy in Danbury, Distributed Energy Systems in Wallingford, GenCell in Southbury and Infinity Fuel Cell in Suffield.
The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus plans to:
* Advocate for full funding of DOE's hydrogen programs, including existing demonstration programs.
* Advocate full funding of basic science to discover the breakthroughs needed for affordable hydrogen and fuel-cell
technology.
* Promote near-term use of best practices rather than premature standard setting that may be too quickly obsolete.
* Advocate keeping hydrogen affordable and promoting means of making it widely available.
* Promote public acceptance and adoption of hydrogen fuel through legislation and education.
http://www.house.gov/larson/pr_050627.htm