--although I would find it hard to believe, maybe a greater percentage of the Senate took high-school physics--and perhaps know something about where hydrogen has to come from and how you get it.
There are about a half a dozen scientists / engineers serving as elected officials in Congress. Outside of the petroleum lobby, though, who would side against hydrogen fuel-related breakthroughs?
Regardless, who would side against this efficiency-promoting kind of govt. procurement breakthrough? It's been hard-fought and it's spreading:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2006-01-11-grand-challenges_x.htm
This news will likely mean that the 3 largest federal agency procurement budgets (DOD, DOE & NASA) will finally have competitive prizes included in 'em:
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage6771.html
"U.S. Rep. Inglis (R-SC) and U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) have re-filed
their H-Prize hydrogen incentive bill. It passed with overwhelming
bi-partisan support, 416-6, during the 109th Congress. It stalled last year
in the Senate, therefore requiring it to be re-filed and passed in the new
Congress."
http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage6788.html
"WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carrolina) continued his
push for energy independence and innovation by reintroducing legislation in
the U.S. Senate yesterday creating the H-Prize. The H-Prize is meant to help
overcome the technical challenges related to using hydrogen as a widely
available and abundant fuel source by offering cash incentives. Graham
introduced similar legislation in the last Congress."
Other interesting relevant articles / blogs:
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/24/41211.aspx
&
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/22/38371.aspx
"[p]rizes can provide an extra push, particularly for innovators who may be
flying under the big automakers' radar."