Today, our way of life is fueled by a fossil fuel based economy. When you drive to work or school you are depending on the energy released by burning gasoline to get you there. Most things that you come into contact with on a daily basis are either made with or transported by fossil fuel energy.

In the United States, a country with 5% of the world’s population, we use 25% of the energy

Smog over Denver, CO Photo by Warren Gretz DOE/NREL

produced globally, the majority of which comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. In 2003, the combined result of our use of petroleum, coal, and natural gas resulted in 8074 million metric tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The US demand for oil is projected to increase by nearly 50% by the year 2025 ⁽¹⁾. In 2003, 56 percent of demand was met by imports, and that share is projected to rise to 68 percent in 2025 ⁽²⁾ - effectively linking the performance of our economy to price of foreign oil.

The energy resulting from our use of fossil fuels comes at a price is not accurately represented in the price of a gallon of gasoline or a ton of coal. Burning fossil fuels releases not only carbon dioxide but other gasses such as nitrogen oxide as well as volatile organic compounds which contribute to global warming public health issues, and environmental degradation the price of which is difficult to measure.

Developing a hydrogen economy represents a fundamental shift away from our dependence on oil. This shift may take decades but it is already underway. Ultimately, a hydrogen based economy means a cleaner and safer world for everyone. Currently, the federal government, energy companies, and auto manufactures are collectively working toward this goal.

The potential benefits include:

• Stabilization of the world economy – the ultimate price for good and services will not effected by the price of fossil fuels.
• Distributed generation – the technology to produce hydrogen is developing rapidly. One day it may be possible that electricity produced by renewable resources may be used for hydrogen generation through electrolysis in your home.
• Decreased release of greenhouse gasses – hydrogen used in a fuel cell may be used to power a vehicle, your home, or computer. Fuel cells use hydrogen to produce electricity and the only by-product is water.
• Decreased pollution – whether it comes from an oil tanker that has run aground or a poorly maintained car, a hydrogen economy will greatly reduce environmental pollution.

The transition to a hydrogen based economy will take decades to achieve and is why we have to begin now.