2001 National Energy Policy

In 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group (NEPD) completed the National Energy Policy Report designed to guide energy policy in the Bush administration. The NEPD recommended that the federal government support research, development, and integration of hydrogen technology for transportation and power generation. In addition, the NEDP supports the use of renewable energy generation technology to help meet electricity demand and supply hydrogen.

Also in 2001, representatives from the energy and transportation industry,

Hydrogen Economy Transition Vision

university, environmental organizations, Federal and State government agencies, and National Laboratories met to discuss the potential role for hydrogen technology in America's energy future. The intent was to identify a common vision of the "hydrogen economy," the time frame, and key milestones that need to be accomplished to accomplish the goal.

Hydrogen is America’s clean energy choice. Hydrogen is flexible, affordable, safe, and domestically produced, used in all sectors of the economy, and in all sectors of the economy, and in all regions of the country. – National Hydrogen Vision Meeting, 2001

In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush Stated, “A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car producing only water, not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free. Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy.” ⁽¹⁾

This led to President Bush's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and the FreedomCAR partnership, which intends to reduce America's need for imported oil and help clean the air by aiding the development of hydrogen fuel cells and affordable hydrogen-powered cars. Together, these two initiatives constitute a commitment of $1.7 billion over five years.

To read more about the federal government's plans for developing a hydrogen economy click here.

The DOE Hydrogen Program currently coordinated the activities of the Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, and DOE Science with regards to hydrogen production.