Posted on 02/25/2004 7:25:48 PM PST by calcowgirl
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's top environmental aide told state lawmakers Wednesday the new governor's vision of a "hydrogen highway" to spur the ultimate replacement of the internal combustion engine is realistic by 2010, and won't even cost the state much money.
Schwarzenegger pledged to build hydrogen fueling stations every 20 miles along major highways, allowing motorists to buy clean-burning hydrogen-fueled vehicles without fear they will run out of gas.
He chose 2010 because that's when automakers have said such vehicles will be readily and affordably available, said Environmental Protection Secretary Terry Tamminen, who advised Schwarzenegger before he made his campaign promise during last fall's recall election.
Tamminen equated the effort to putting a man on the moon, and joined other witnesses in urging that California lead the way.
"California does invent the future," Tamminen said. Though there are plenty of unknowns, "There are no show-stoppers. The only area where some of us disagree is on timing."
The cost is still too high, warned California Energy Commission member Jim Boyd.
And Toyota Motor Co.'s Bill Reinert said that despite a decade of research and development, any promises are premature. The automotive industry still is years away from developing the smaller, cheaper, more efficient and longer lasting fuel cells that are needed before consumers will buy many hydrogen-fueled vehicles, Reinert said.
"We're not even close to solving storage technology issues yet," Reinert said. Though he expects technology will develop "dramatically" over the next few years, "We still have significant challenges along the way."
Other witnesses before the Assembly Select Committee on Air and Water Quality said the so-called "hydrogen revolution" won't happen without a strong push by the state and federal governments.
"We need a sense of mission about this," said S. David Freeman, a top energy aide to former Gov. Gray Davis who now heads a company doing aftermarket hydrogen vehicle conversions.
Moreover, that hydrogen must come from biomass, solar or other renewable energy, not fossil fuels, Freeman said, "otherwise we're just putting coal in the tank." He said the state should consider floating more long-term debt to pay for additional technological and infrastructure development.
But Tamminen said the cost to the state could be minimal.
Schwarzenegger's proposed network amounts to about 200 fueling stations, a fraction of California's 10,000 retail gasoline stations, Tamminen said.
Twenty-five of those stations will soon be available, and Tamminen projected more can be built by universities, waste conversion stations and automakers at little cost to the state. If California can win $20 million to $30 million of the $1.7 billion President Bush promised for hydrogen research, Tamminen said the combination will pay most of the estimated $100 million cost of Schwarzenegger's proposal.
Even if those stations serve a million hydrogen vehicles, he acknowledged they alone won't make a significant dent in the air pollution caused by the projected 30 million vehicles that will crowd California highways by 2010.
But it's a good step, Tamminen said, along with more mass transit and retiring the heaviest polluting diesel and gas-powered engines.
"California is uniquely positioned to be a national leader in the hydrogen revolution," urged Dan Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, because of its existing edge in technology and experts. "California needs to think big here."
Phew! Glad that pesky budget deficit is over with!
BTW, Do you ever feel like you are always dealing with ignorant people?
200 fueling stations ... 30 million vehicles... 2010 ... readily available fuel cell vehicles ... floating more long term debt ... from biomass, solar or other renewable energy ... Twenty-five of those stations will soon be available ...
Only when I'm not on FR, ;-)
"We need a sense of mission about this," said S. David Freeman, a top energy aide to former Gov. Gray Davis who now heads a company doing aftermarket hydrogen vehicle conversions.
Moreover, that hydrogen must come from biomass, solar or other renewable energy, not fossil fuels, Freeman said, "otherwise we're just putting coal in the tank." He said the state should consider floating more long-term debt to pay for additional technological and infrastructure development."
This is getting ridiculous!
This is getting ridiculous!
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Yes it is ridiculous. They need ALL of their checkbooks and credit cards cut up. They are selling out this state. I think it was Amerigomag that referred to it as Arnie's IPO. Arnie didn't start it, but it needs to stop NOW. The State should not be indebted to anyone!
So... Ernest... please... I'm beggin' ya.... Vote NO on 57/58! ;-)
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