Hydrogen prize

The Hydrogen Prize is a proposed financial award to encourage research into hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

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Legislative status

Legislation for the prize, H.R. 632, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 10, 2006 and in August of 2007 it became part of the House's comprehensive energy bill, H.R. 3221 (which passed). A companion bill, S. 365, was introduced in the Senate and had very few cosponsors before it was passed as part of a more comprehensive energy bill in December of 2007. President Bush signed it into law later that month and now it's just a matter of getting funding by Congress...

Proponents of the hydrogen prize cite benefits of reduced dependence on foreign oil, cleaner air from burning pollution-free hydrogen and new jobs.

Prize description

The prize is modeled after the privately funded Ansari X Prize that resulted in the first privately developed crewed rocket to reach space twice.

If the legislation is passed, monetary awards would be given out in three categories:

• Technological Advancements – Four prizes of up to $1 million awarded every other year in the categories of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilization;
• Prototypes – One prize of up to $4 million awarded every other year that forces working hydrogen vehicle prototypes to meet ambitious performance goals; and
• Transformational Technologies - One grand prize consisting of a $10 million cash award, funded in whole or in part by federal contribution. Additional matching funds could be awarded for development of wells-to-wheels breakthrough technologies.[1]

See also

• Hydrogen economy