| lkgeo1 2006-12-20, 5:25 pm |
| Transportation Secretary Peters Certifies World's First Hydrogen
Powered Santa Sleigh To Fly Through U.S. Airspace This Holiday Season
Publication Date:20-December-2006
04:15 PM US Eastern Timezone
Source:U.S. Department of Transport
WASHINGTON - Saying that Santa "is going green," U.S. Secretary
of Transportation Mary E. Peters today certified the first-ever
hydrogen powered sleigh as safe to operate in U.S. airspace this
holiday season. "Santa's new sleigh is a hybrid vehicle
that can fly using either the traditional eight tiny reindeer or modern
hydrogen fuel cells. The hydrogen sleigh is quieter, so Santa can
make his deliveries without waking children and disturbing the visions
of sugarplums dancing in their heads," Secretary Peters said.
Secretary Peters and members of the Department's Research and
Innovative Technology Administration Holiday Team inspected Santa's
sleigh, including the hydrogen fuel cell that powers the sleigh, new
crash avoidance technology, and the GPS unit that will get Santa to all
the houses on his list. After the inspection, the Secretary signed a
"Hydrogen Prototype Vehicle Waiver" that authorizes Santa, a.k.a.
Kris Kringle, to operate the vehicle in U.S. airspace and on
rooftops.
The waiver signed by the Secretary expressed the Department's wishes
to promote the safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly passage of
holiday goodies by a well-trained crew of reindeer and Santa's
prototype hydrogen-powered sleigh.
"Santa's new sleigh guarantees on-time delivery of toys to millions
of good girls and boys this holiday season," Secretary Peters
said.
Secretary Peters Remarks:
Good morning!
As you know, the holiday season is upon us, and I have some happy news
for good little girls and boys across America. Santa Claus has been
cleared for flight!
Every year, this jolly fellow sitting next to me travels from rooftop
to rooftop delivering toys and goodies.
President Bush knows how important it is that those presents arrive on
time, and he has asked me to do everything possible to make sure that
Santa's trip is safe and his flight path clear.
So we have made a list, and checked it twice. We know that old Kris
Kringle here is an expert flyer. In a single night, December 24th, he
logs more miles than most airline pilots do in a year.
And his elves have always done an absolutely wonderful job of keeping
this sleigh in tip-top working order.
Now, it seems those innovative elves have souped up Santa's sleigh
with 21st Century technology. They have equipped the sleigh with GPS
navigation to make sure Santa finds the homes of every last kid on his
list, and route optimizer software will make sure he takes the most
efficient path to get there.
New crash avoidance technology will complement Rudolph's red nose and
help the sleigh maneuver around chimneys and cell phone towers, even on
the foggiest of Christmas Eves.
And here's the big innovation - Santa's gone green!
Oh, he is still donning his traditional red suit. But the sleigh you
see here is a hybrid. It can fly using either the traditional eight
tiny reindeer or modern hydrogen fuel cells.
In fact, these twinkling lights are running on hydrogen power right
now.
Santa tells me the hydrogen sleigh is quieter, so he can make his
deliveries without waking children and disturbing the visions of
sugarplums dancing in their heads.
It is also cleaner. Those reindeer can put out a lot of methane gas
as they go around the globe. But the only byproduct from hydrogen is
water.
Like the folks in the North Pole, we are developing hydrogen as an
energy source here in the United States. In fact, we are testing over
200 hydrogen cars and light-weight trucks already, and have 25 fuel
cell buses in service.
But this is the first-ever hydrogen sleigh. So we have called in
Inspector Bobo, who heads up the team of technology experts at the
Research and Innovative Technology Administration.
Inspector, you have examined this sleigh. Does it check
out?
Then Santa, if you will join me to sign the certificate.
Under the authority vested in me as Secretary of Transportation, and in
accordance with the International Convention on Holiday Affairs, I
hereby grant the following waivers:
For Santa to safely operate his prototype hydrogen sleigh within the
United States and its territories;
For Santa to refuel at all H-2 energy stations in order to make on-time
deliveries and spread holiday cheer; and
For Santa to enjoy free parking on the night before Christmas for the
purpose of delivering presents to all good girls and boys whose names
appear on this list.
Congratulations, Santa! Oh, and by the way, I have been very
good.
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