Energy Secretary Abraham Announces New Hydrogen Education Effort

LANSING, MICHIGAN – Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today announced a new effort to educate state and local government officials about the vision of a hydrogen economy.   “Hydrogen Power: The Promise, The Challenge” is a six-city national tour to commence in Lansing, Mich. next month. 

Working with regional, state, and local partners, the U.S. Department of Energy will offer “Hydrogen 101” to state and local officials who do not have a technical background, but are interested in learning more about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, hydrogen safety, and the challenges to achieving the hydrogen vision.

“Achieving the vision of a hydrogen economy requires a revolution in the way we produce, use and store energy,” Secretary Abraham said.  “This revolution will succeed only through cooperation among federal, state and local partners. It’s important that we share an understanding of how hydrogen fuel cell technology works, as well as challenges we face in realizing the vision.”

The “Hydrogen Power” workshop series will begin in Lansing on Tuesday, March 23, and is offered in partnership with Lansing Community College and Michigan’s NextEnergy.  The second stop is Austin, Texas, on Friday, April 16, in cooperation with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and the Texas Clean Air Working Group.  The series will travel to cities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and West before wrapping up in the fall of 2004.

President Bush has called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue the promise of hydrogen.  Over the next five years DOE will invest $1.7 billion in research and development of advanced hybrid vehicle components, fuel cells, and hydrogen infrastructure technologies, as part of the FreedomCAR and Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. 

State and local governments play a critical role in achieving the hydrogen vision—facilitating the development of hydrogen codes and standards, laying the foundation for long-term change and building public acceptance.  The hydrogen workshop series is a cornerstone of DOE’s public education strategy for hydrogen, as recommended in the President’s National Energy Policy.

Media Contact(s):
Tom Welch, 202/586-5806