I hate to break up our Autoweek streak, but this is too timely.  Don’t worry, we’ll have another post this afternoon. But first, an update from the US Fuel Cell Council.  Thanks to FuelCellToday for posting this as well.

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Yesterday the energy and water bill negotiated by the US House and Senate conferees was cleared by the Senate by a vote of 80-17.  The bill, passed by the House two weeks ago, funds the Department of Energy’s fuel cell and hydrogen programs.  The spending measure that funds the department for Fiscal Year 2010 is expected to be signed by the President shortly.

The bill approved by Congress is a significant win for fuel cells overall. The Obama administration requested $68 million for the EERE program. Under the final Congressional compromise, funding for fuel cells and hydrogen will receive $174 million, or $106 million higher than the Obama administration’s request.

Funding for Fossil Energy’s (FE) SECA program was decreased, unfortunately, from the House and Senate recommendations to $50 million for FY 2010.  Congress provided $10 million to for coal to hydrogen work, an increase from the request of $6 million; nuclear hydrogen funds were not funded.  This was consistent with the administration request.

Legislative language directs the Department to use the EERE funds to: “further program goals with new contracts and continue funding 190 contracts the Department placed at risk in fiscal year 2010 by requesting zero funding for this program. Additionally, fuel cell technology can continue to be pursued under the Hydrogen Technologies Program in fiscal year 2010 as it has been in the past.”

A number of earmarks were added, and some additional research will be funded via the Office of Science.

The USFCC led the grassroots and coalition-building effort to restore the funds, working collaboratively with a wide range of organizations and individuals.  This ambitious legislative effort has paid off handsomely overall.  But a great deal of work remains if the Obama Administration is to embrace fuel cells as part of their national energy strategy.  We have already begun that work.