Posted on 11/14/2002 4:43:46 AM PST by BigWaveBetty
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (news - web sites) released a "roadmap" Tuesday for putting fuel cells in the nation's cars and trucks, further committing the United States to a hydrogen-based transportation system.
"Creating the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of the future presents complex technical challenges," he told business leaders at the Global Forum on Personal Transportation in the hometown of Ford Motor Co. "Overcoming them will take an intensive and equally complex effort — but it will be worth it because the stakes really are so high."
The Department of Energy (news - web sites) and the nation's leading car and oil companies began work one year ago on a "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap," Abraham said.
Abraham was holding a closed-door meeting later Tuesday with the heads of the chief executives of some of the nation's leading businesses, including Ford, General Motors Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp., as well as the leaders of American, Northwest and Southwest airlines.
Fuel cells use a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. When pure hydrogen is used, the only tailpipe emission is water vapor.
The technology could have two big benefits: sharply cutting America's dependence on oil imports from an unstable Middle East and reducing the production of greenhouse gases widely blamed for global warming (news - web sites).
But fuel-cell technology is not expected to be widely available until the end of the decade at least.
Critics say the Bush administration and auto industry are using fuel cell research as a way to fend off calls for vehicles that get more miles per gallon.
"The whole business about fuel cell vehicles is just political theater," said analyst David Healy of Burnham Securities.
He said a much better way to reduce oil consumption is through gas-electric vehicles, some of which already are on the road.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham Unveils 'Roadmap' for Putting Fuel Cells in U.S. Cars, Trucks
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham released a "roadmap" Tuesday for putting fuel cells in the nation's cars and trucks, further committing the United States to a hydrogen-based transportation system.
"Creating the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle of the future presents complex technical challenges," he told business leaders at the Global Forum on Personal Transportation in the hometown of Ford Motor Co. "Overcoming them will take an intensive and equally complex effort -- but it will be worth it because the stakes really are so high."
The Department of Energy and the nation's leading car and oil companies began work one year ago on a "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap," Abraham said.
Abraham was holding a closed-door meeting later Tuesday with the heads of the chief executives of some of the nation's leading businesses, including Ford, General Motors Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp., as well as the leaders of American, Northwest and Southwest airlines.
Fuel cells use a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. When pure hydrogen is used, the only tailpipe emission is water vapor.
The technology could have two big benefits: sharply cutting America's dependence on oil imports from an unstable Middle East and reducing the production of greenhouse gases widely blamed for global warming.
But fuel-cell technology is not expected to be widely available until the end of the decade at least.
Critics say the Bush administration and auto industry are using fuel cell research as a way to fend off calls for vehicles that get more miles per gallon.
"The whole business about fuel cell vehicles is just political theater," said analyst David Healy of Burnham Securities.
He said a much better way to reduce oil consumption is through gas-electric vehicles, some of which already are on the road.
"They're light years away from a commercial (fuel cell) vehicle," Healy said.
Abraham acknowledged that many hurdles remain.
One of the biggest challenges is finding a safe way to store hydrogen fuel in vehicles. Others are developing a hydrogen delivery network like the one that distributes gasoline to stations nationwide, and finding economical ways to produce hydrogen.
The initiative also is looking at other uses for hydrogen.
"The roadmap outlines the research, development, demonstration, codes and standards, and education efforts necessary to lead the nation to a clean and sustainable energy future," the Energy Department said.
Abraham said it is vital for America to abandon its reliance on oil and other fossil fuels.
"Whether it is fusion, a hydrogen economy, or ideas that we have not yet explored, I believe we need to leapfrog the status quo and prepare for a future that under any scenario requires a revolution in how we produce, deliver and use energy," he said.
In January, the Bush administration abandoned a Clinton-era effort to produce highly fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles. In its place, the administration announced a joint effort with automakers to promote hydrogen fuel cell powered cars and trucks.
In May, General Motors displayed a pickup truck that it said was the world's first drivable fuel cell vehicle that extracts hydrogen from gasoline to produce electricity. Link
Department of Energy hydrogen power site
"They're light years away from a commercial (fuel cell) vehicle," Healy said
Really? Light years? Even little ole not the sharpest pencil in the box me, knows that statement is a bit over the top. Why is Mr. Healy so against the fuel cell idea?
Could someone out there fill me in?
WHITE House press secretary Ari Fleischer, 41, and his new bride, Office of Management and Budget staffer Rebecca Davis, 26, are one cost-conscious couple. Before their wedding last Saturday in Washington, they registered at cheapo chain Target, where they requested such frugal items as a "Forrest Gump" DVD and the board game Scattergories, reports the Jewish Forward. Peter Sagal, host of the National Public Radio quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me," logged onto the Target Web site and bought the happy couple a $9.99 bundt cake pan.
"Any time a bald Jewish guy - and I'm one myself - manages to get a nice girl, it's cause for celebration," Flesicher quipped. Page Six
And this on our favorite warbling nitwit:
BARBRA Streisand finally got a proofreader. The latest rant on her Web site seems to be flawless, at least in spelling and grammar. "It is a sad time," Streisand writes. "The Democratic Party was not able to articulate a clear message." Babs feels it's because they weren't strident enough demanding tax hikes and appeasing Iraq. "Instead of standing up to the Republicans and indicating their differences, the Democrats went along with the president on tax cuts and Iraq - and were voted out anyway. The American people want leaders - they want people who convey a strong message and stand for something."
The conventional wisdom says the 32-year-old Tennessee congressman won't win today's election for House minority leader against 62-year-old Democratic Whip Nancy Pelosi. Some of the liberal Californian's loyalists, who claim she closed the deal days ago with a majority of the caucus, have been grumbling that Ford is in it for the exposure (which he can bank for a future political campaign). [Gee, ya think?]
After all, Ford announced his sudden candidacy last week on Don Imus's radio and MSNBC show and has presented his People magazine-certified "50 Most Beautiful People" mug on a dozen television shows since. WashPost
Washington -- Poised to take over today as House Democratic leader, San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi said she has no intention of tugging her party to the left or imposing her liberal outlook on the rest of the country.
Instead, as House Democrats prepare to enter their ninth year in the minority, Pelosi said she will push the party to develop an economic growth plan to distinguish itself from the Republicans and will draw up a political road map to win back the majority as early as 2004.
"It's not a matter of where you are on the spectrum. . . . It's an issue of how you lead the troops," Pelosi said in an interview on the eve of her all- but-certain election to the House Democrats' No. 1 post.
Blah blah blah. Full story at sfgate.com
Can't teach an old dog new tricks. She's much too much liberal and full of herself. Expect the house and senate pubbie numbers to triple after her first two years.
Say what?! Are they running out of beautiful people at People?!
Not only is the man boring, his face is boring, his ideas are boring and he has the personality of dust.
Funny how all these old hippies are finally coming around to the dreaded establishment.
How refreshing. Just love Ari! Good luck to them. I'd say maziltahf, but I don't know how to spell it.
In Michael Jackson, I think we've found the missing link. Link to what I'm not sure.
As for Harold Ford, I agree that he offers nothing new, but the media have adopted him as the great black hope, so even if Pelosi wins the minority leader position, it's going to be all Harold, all the time from the press.
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