Alternative Power sources - Members Committed to Energy Independence Introduce Hydrogen Legislation

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Members Committed to Energy Independence Introduce Hydrogen Legislation

lkgeo1

2007-02-04, 1:25 pm

Members Committed to Energy Independence Introduce Hydrogen
Legislation

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Lee Terry (R-NE), Mike Doyle (D-
PA), Zach Wamp (R-TN), and Albert Wynn (D-MD) introduced bipartisan
legislation to promote the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell
technology.

This legislation would extend the current federal tax credit on fuel
cell equipment through 2013 and provide a tax credit for hydrogen fuel
consumed in energy conversion.

Congressmen Terry, Doyle, Wamp, and Wynn believe that enactment of
these tax credits would help accelerate the commercial adoption of
these technologies and the growth of the hydrogen economy - which, in
turn, would help reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and
our dependence on foreign oil.

The Congressmen made the following statements:

TERRY: "Fuel cell technology has many different applications - from
emergency backup generators at hospitals and police stations to a
pollution-free replacement for gasoline and diesel engines in cars,
buses, and trucks. Fuel cell technology promises to reduce the number
of large new power plants and transmission lines we need to build by
allowing the distributed generation of electricity across the country.
In addition, fuel cell technology provides important emergency backup
power generation capability for first responders and our military.
That's why Congressman Doyle and I established the House Distributed
Generation Caucus - to promote this important new technology."

DOYLE: "Hydrogen fuel cell technology holds tremendous potential for
allowing Americans to be more responsible stewards of our environment.
It also offers us a way to reduce our dependence on oil from violent
and politically unstable parts of the world by providing a reliable,
affordable alternative to the internal combustion engine - and a more
efficient way of utilizing the hydrocarbons we do consume. These tax
credits would develop enough private-sector demand for fuel cell
technology to establish the economies of scale necessary for fuel
cells to become economically viable alternatives for electricity
generation and vehicle propulsion. These incentives will get fuel cell
technology over the sole remaining obstacle to its widespread adoption
- the cost of expanding production and establishing a fuel cell
infrastructure across the country."

WYNN: "Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies offer a long-term solution
to America's addiction to foreign oil. We know the technology exists
today and is being demonstrated in a variety of applications: from 1)
passenger buses to 2) forklifts powered by hydrogen fuel cells to 3)
auxiliary power units for trucks and RVs. In order to increase large
scale commercialization of existing and future technologies, we must
provide incentives and create a roadmap for the hydrogen economy. This
bill creates a ground-breaking tax incentive to encourage businesses
to use hydrogen for power generation. Furthermore, I intend to
reintroduce a bill that will establish a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Commission, which will identify key obstacles to progress and devise a
plan for success. At a time when we should be promoting independence
from oil and fast tracking alternatives, the U.S. now has a record
dependence on foreign oil, which has climbed to a staggering 65
percent. This is unacceptable. Accordingly, our legislation creates a
necessary incentive for the commercialization of critical hydrogen and
fuel cell technologies - bringing us one step closer to the reality of
an emissions-free hydrogen economy."

WAMP: "Alternative energy sources are the nexus between our
environment, economy, and homeland security. This legislation
exemplifies the bipartisan effort to become energy independent so that
we can rely less on oil from the Middle East and Venezuela while we
increase domestic production of cleaner and more reliable energy
sources to drive our own economy."

This legislation would extend the current federal tax credit for 30
percent of expenditures on fuel cell equipment (up to $1000 per
kilowatt) through 2013. It would also provide a tax credit for 30
percent of the cost of hydrogen fuel consumed in energy conversion per
year (up to $1500 per energy conversion device, whether it be a fuel
cell or internal combustion engine).

Congressmen Terry, Doyle, and Wynn are on the House Energy and
Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over federal energy and
environmental policies. As Co-chair of the House Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Caucus, Congressman Wynn has been active for a number of years in
developing and promoting the commercialization of energy technologies
which increase the efficiency, affordability, and reliability of our
domestic energy supply.

Bill Summary:

Terry-Doyle Hydrogen Fuel Cell Commercialization Act

110th Congress

Section-by-Section Summary and Analysis

First section - Establishes a 30 percent federal tax credit for
hydrogen fuel in order to help with the rising cost of hydrogen fuel
and encourage long-term investment in hydrogen energy-conversion
devices (fuel cells). The tax credit would go to the business or
individual who is purchasing the hydrogen for use in the power
generation unit. This change is needed because a tax credit for
hydrogen fuel use does not currently exist. This tax incentive will
help keep hydrogen competitive as a fuel.

Second section - Extends the current 30 percent tax credit for fuel
cells (which is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2008) until
December 31, 2013. Extending the credit is essential for encouraging
purchases of this technology in the coming years.

Third section - Requires fuel cell-powered backup electricity for all
new government buildings. This backup fuel cell power generator would
also supply power to the building during peak demand hours. The bill
also requires the General Services Administration, the federal agency
responsible for building most federal buildings and facilities, to
consider using fuel cell-powered electricity to meet the base power
needs of all new government buildings. The federal government is the
nation's largest landlord. Requiring the federal government to utilize
fuel cells will dramatically expand the market for this technology,
allowing economies of scale and bringing down the cost of fuel cells
for private sector purchases.

Fourth section - Provides funding to the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DoT) for the agency to issue regulations for the
storage and transportation of hydrogen fuel. A lack of funding has
kept DoT from devising and implementing education programs for
hydrogen fuel storage and transport. The widespread national use of
hydrogen fuel cannot take place without greater DoT outreach and
education efforts. This will give the DoT the resources it needs to
work with the states, private entities and other government entities
in order to provide a smooth transition to a hydrogen economy.

http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi...hiver.pl?159628

Steve Spence

2007-02-04, 5:25 pm

lkgeo1 wrote:
> Members Committed to Energy Independence Introduce Hydrogen
> Legislation
>
> Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Lee Terry (R-NE), Mike Doyle (D-
> PA), Zach Wamp (R-TN), and Albert Wynn (D-MD) introduced bipartisan
> legislation to promote the widespread adoption of hydrogen fuel cell
> technology.

Did they find a magic hydrogen well?

--
Steve Spence
Dir., Green Trust
http://www.green-trust.org

lkgeo1

2007-02-04, 5:25 pm

On Feb 4, 3:44?pm, Steve Spence <sspe...@green-trust.org> wrote:
> lkgeo1 wrote:
>
>
> Did they find a magic hydrogen well?
>
> --
> Steve Spence
> Dir., Green Trusthttp://www.green-trust.org

do you have a plan?

Steve Spence

2007-02-04, 8:25 pm

lkgeo1 wrote:
> On Feb 4, 3:44?pm, Steve Spence <sspe...@green-trust.org> wrote:
>
> do you have a plan?
>

Sure. Don't waste money on hydrogen boondoggles, and invest heavily in
wind, solar, and biofuel technology, as well as resource recovery.

--
Steve Spence
Dir., Green Trust
http://www.green-trust.org

Neon John

2007-02-12, 9:25 am

On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 15:44:25 -0500, Steve Spence
<sspence@green-trust.org> wrote:

>lkgeo1 wrote:
>
>Did they find a magic hydrogen well?

From my state, too. I'm so embarrased. Zach Wamp. Nice guy but dumb
as a rock who'll believe pretty much anything that's fed him. Nothing
to do with hydrogen, of course. Everything to do with opening up
another government money tit to suck from.

John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
Don't let your schooling interfere with your education-Mark Twain

Neon John

2007-02-12, 9:25 am

On Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:37:01 -0500, Steve Spence
<sspence@green-trust.org> wrote:

>lkgeo1 wrote:

>
>Sure. Don't waste money on hydrogen boondoggles, and invest heavily in
>wind, solar, and biofuel technology, as well as resource recovery.

Many things in nature surprise me. That bumblebees can fly. That
penguins can't. That whales exist. That someone that deficient of
common sense could get through life long enough to stumble over a
computer and learn to use it well enough to post spew like that....

I think I'll invest some more in nuclear.

John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
Don't let your schooling interfere with your education-Mark Twain

Mike Swift

2007-02-15, 3:25 am

In article <45c61363_1@newsfeed.slurp.net>,
Steve Spence <sspence@green-trust.org> wrote:

> lkgeo1 wrote:
>
> Did they find a magic hydrogen well?

Im afraid these Congressmen are believing all of the "feedback" from the
lobbyists hired by the people receiving there pork. Each year they are
told that we are getting near the point where it will be ready, and not
need anymore pork to make it economic. People spending 'other peoples
money' will have no problem spending it as long as it is politicly
correct.

--
Mike

Some say we must tax corporations more. What they do not understand is that
corporations do not pay taxes. One of our governments conditions for their
existence is they collect the taxes from their customers and pass them to
the government.
Mike Swift

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