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National organisations and trade associations have joined forces to call on the US Government to restore the federal hydrogen and fuel cell research and deployment programme.

The Obama administration’s 2010 budget for the Department of Energy proposes cutting the existing hydrogen fuel cell programme by over $130 million – two-thirds of the entire programme’s budget. Funds for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and market transformation programmes could be cut entirely.

“Fuel cells are essential to achieving national goals for energy security, sustainability and global competitiveness,” states the letter to the House and Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.

The organisations, which include Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM), the National Hydrogen Association (NHA), the US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), says that fuel cell vehicles should be part of the country’s sustainable transport future.

“Industry, academic researchers, and the Department of Energy, working together, have achieved substantial success in addressing technology, infrastructure and cost challenges,” they say. “We need to maintain momentum in the hydrogen fuel cell pathway… [and] urge you to maintain US leadership… by restoring fuel cell funding to 2009 levels.”

For further information:
www.usfcc.com/Natl_Orgs_letter_Energy&Water_2.pdf
www.autoalliance.org/
www.hydrogenassociation.org/
www.usfcc.com/
www.ucsusa.org/

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US Department of Energy budget focuses on renewables and transport (12-May)