State Sees Role in Fuel Cell Development
Posted on: Saturday, 19 November 2005, 12:00 CST
By RUSSELL RAY World Staff Writer
Oklahoma could be instrumental in the nation's transition to hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, Oklahoma Energy Secretary David Fleischaker said Tuesday.
Such vehicles require no gasoline and produce water vapor instead of smog. The technology promises to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and decrease air pollution.
Fleischaker and state Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, disclosed the findings and recommendations of the Oklahoma Fuel Cell Initiative Task Force, established in August 2004, during a press conference Tuesday.
What they discovered were "world class" fuel cell research programs at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. The task force hopes to build on those programs by luring more research dollars to the state.
"We want to shine the media light on those efforts," Fleischaker said, explaining the strategy behind the press conference. "What's going to come of it? I don't know."
The transition to a hydrogen economy will require the construction of infrastructure capable of transporting hydrogen, Fleischaker said.
"Someone has to do that research," he said. "There's no better place than Oklahoma because of our experience with natural gas transportation."
Oil is the feedstock for nearly all transportation fuels, and 58 percent of the oil consumed in the United States comes from other countries.
"Our dependence on foreign energy sources continues to grow," Benge said. "That's a concern from a public policy standpoint. To me, it's a national security issue."
Hydrogen fuel cell technology could be the solution to America's growing dependence on foreign oil, said Karl Jonietz, a fuel cell expert at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
"This is a serious problem," Jonietz said. "The United States consumes more energy for transportation than it produces domestically and has done so since 1987."
But fuel cell technology is a long way from being commercialized, Jonietz said, addling that a number of obstacles must be overcome.
"We can't produce fuel cell vehicles that are reasonable in cost, that are durable in operation," he said.
A fuel cell combines hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, and air to generate electricity, which powers the vehicle. Other than electricity, the only byproduct of the chemical reaction is water vapor.
"We have a lot of talent in our state," Benge said. "They bring a lot of expertise to the table."
The task force recommended:
Seeking federal grants to advance the research of ethanol fuel cell technology and Department of Commerce funding for an annual conference on ethanol fuel cells.
Establishing a task force to study the feasibility of using an ethanol-based fuel cell to power a new state building.
Establishing a research center at OU's Sarkeys Energy Center to study the development of a transportation system for hydrogen.
Passing a tax credit to help in the commercialization of nanotube technology being developed by OU researchers.
Russell Ray 581-8380
russell.ray@tulsaworld.com
Source: Tulsa World
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