House passes $10M hydrogen prize

[Cdowwe]

Surprised this idea took so long

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/05/10/hydrogen.prize.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs will be able to vie for a grand prize of $10 million, and smaller prizes reaching millions of dollars, under House-passed legislation to encourage research into hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

Legislation creating the "H-Prize," modeled after the privately funded Ansari X Prize that resulted last year in the first privately developed manned rocket to reach space twice, passed the House Wednesday on a 416-6 vote. A companion bill is to be introduced in the Senate this week.

"This is an opportunity for a triple play," said bill sponsor Rep. Bob Inglis, R-South Carolina, citing benefits to national security from reduced dependence on foreign oil, cleaner air from burning pollution-free hydrogen and new jobs. "If we can reinvent the car, imagine the jobs we can create."

"Perhaps the greatest role that the H-Prize may serve is in spurring the imagination of our most valuable resource, our youth," said co-sponsor Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Illinois.

The measure would award four prizes of up to $1 million every other year for technological advances in hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilization. One prize of up to $4 million would be awarded every second year for the creation of a working hydrogen vehicle prototype.

The grand prize, to be awarded within the next 10 years, would go for breakthrough technology.

"Prizes can draw out new ideas from scientists and engineers who may not be willing or able to participate in traditional government research and development programs, while encouraging them, rather than the taxpayer, to assume the risk," said Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-New York.

Inglis said the Department of Energy would put together a private foundation to set up guidelines and requirements for the prizes. Anyone can participate, as long as the research is performed in the United States and the person, if employed by the government or a national lab, does the research on his own time.

He said the prize would not take away funds from any federal hydrogen programs, including the $1.7 billion hydrogen research program that President Bush first detailed in 2003.

The Energy Department announced earlier this year that it would provide $119 million in funding for research into hydrogen fuel cells, including $100 million over the next four years to projects to improve components of fuel cell systems.

Several automakers have made advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology or dual gas-hydrogen engines, but such vehicles are still very expensive and there's no viable infrastructure of fueling stations.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Now that may be the best bill past this decade

However, I think this technology is worth a lot more then 10 million dollars to our government. They should step up to 100 million

[Cskin]

Good... leave the technology advances in private hands... so the US govt. won't fook it up like everything else they've gotten involved in.

[DjTj]

Now that may be the best bill past this decade

However, I think this technology is worth a lot more then 10 million dollars to our government. They should step up to 100 million

They'll get the next 100 million from being able to patent their technology and selling the cars ... the prize is just an enticement - the market will decide what it's actually worth.

[fight_on_til_you_have_won]

I wonder which six voted against this measure.

[skinsbuck]

Warren Buffet and Bill Gates should team up and get this done. Not that they need the money, but they have the money.

[DjTj]

I wonder which six voted against this measure.

Ahh ... the miracle of the internet:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll131.xml#N

John Duncan (R-Knoxville, TN)

Jeff Flake (R-Mesa, AZ)

Virginia Foxx (R-Winston Salem, NC)

Don Manzullo (R-Rockford, IL)

Ron Paul (R-Galveston, TX)

Tom Tancredo (R-Castle Rock, CO)

What do they all have in common? :whoknows:

[Johnny Punani2]

Ahh ... the miracle of the internet:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll131.xml#N

John Duncan (R-Knoxville, TN)

Jeff Flake (R-Mesa, AZ)

Virginia Foxx (R-Winston Salem, NC)

Don Manzullo (R-Rockford, IL)

Ron Paul (R-Galveston, TX)

Tom Tancredo (R-Castle Rock, CO)

What do they all have in common? :whoknows:

They get large contributions from Oil companies?

Exxon/Mobil can suck it!

[Johnny Punani2]

http://www.hydrogennow.org/

The mission of Hydrogen Now! is to accelerate the use of renewable hydrogen.

An undeniable truth of life: choices involve consequences. As far as our energy choices go, choosing to burn fossil fuels almost exclusively for the last century and a half has brought tremendous development and opportunities, but it has not been without consequences.

Although we will continue to use petroleum for some time, we have reached the point in human history where we must evolve to a lighter, cleaner fuel. Browse our site to learn more about hydrogen. We have the technology to begin making a transition now. It is time to take it upon ourselves to make better energy choices for the 21st century.

[fight_on_til_you_have_won]

Ahh ... the miracle of the internet:

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll131.xml#N

John Duncan (R-Knoxville, TN)

Jeff Flake (R-Mesa, AZ)

Virginia Foxx (R-Winston Salem, NC)

Don Manzullo (R-Rockford, IL)

Ron Paul (R-Galveston, TX)

Tom Tancredo (R-Castle Rock, CO)

What do they all have in common? :whoknows:

I guess the R stands for Retard. :doh:

[ChocolateCitySkin]

Now that may be the best bill past this decade

However, I think this technology is worth a lot more then 10 million dollars to our government. They should step up to 100 million

If you live in Lala Land... This is a lame feel good publicity stunt.

[Leonard Washington]

10mil? it will probably cost more than that in R&D. 100mil and exxon might consider competing.