Byron Dorgan: “I began talking about the Estrada nomination, about how we wish we could resolve that, and turn to other important…”

“I began talking about the Estrada nomination, about how we wish we could resolve that, and turn to other important issues. I think this issue of fuel-cell vehicles and a hydrogen economy is something we will deal with in an energy bill. I visited with Senator Domenici, who is now chairman of the Energy Committee, and my colleague Senator Bingaman as well, the ranking member, about this issue. Now, I want to show my colleagues that this fuel cell technology is not pie in the sky. Here is a fuel-cell vehicle--a Ford Focus production-ready prototype introduced in the autumn of 2002. And this is a fuel-cell vehicle at the hydrogen fueling station. PowerTech Laboratories created this infrastructure for fueling, which, of course, you have to have if you are going to have these kinds of vehicles. This next chart shows a Nissan X-Terra fueled by compressed hydrogen and tested on public roads in California in the year 2001. Finally, this is the General Motors Hy-Wire Fuel Concept Car unveiled in August 2002. The fact is we can do this and should do this as a country, but it won't happen unless we make it happen. That is the point of my legislation. The Director of Environmental Affairs at Daimler Chrysler has said that political support is vital for the car industry to make inroads in fuel cell technology. They can do a lot themselves, but at a certain point they need legislative and financial support to stimulate this important sector.”