Let’s make no mistake about it. The environmental disaster that is happening right now in the Gulf Coastal region is the worst oil spill in U. S. history. So, this begs the question (at least on this blog) as to where are all of the hydrogen cars and fueling stations along the Gulf Coast region as a solution towards getting off of our oil addiction going forward?
According to the National Hydrogen Association Hydrogen Fueling Station Database, here is the breakdown of stations that are either operational or planned along the Gulf Coast and whether they are private or public stations:
1. Austin, Texas – public or private (unknown) most likely private since it resides at a research center
2. Louisiana – none operational and none planned
3. Alabama – none operational and none planned
4. Georgia – none operational and none planned
5. Florida – 4 hydrogen stations total
- a. Kennedy Space Center – Private
- b. Orlando, Florida, 2 stations, both private
- c. Oviedo, FL – private
In October 2009, I had talked about how the Gulf Coast region, particularly Louisiana and Texas have the most vast and robust hydrogen production and pipeline system in the U. S. The hydrogen produced here is mostly used for the refining of crude oil.
With a region already rich in hydrogen production and distribution, one would think that both hydrogen cars and fueling stations would be prevalent in these states. But, this is not so.
The Gulf Coast oil spill is an environmental disaster of unknown magnitude that is affecting and will continue to affect wildlife, jobs and the health of residents and cleanup workers for some time to come.
Perhaps this is a wakeup call in this region that oil is not the answer to our future energy needs and alternatives such as hydrogen are needed and needed now. It is most obvious that BP and the other big oil companies will not be the ones ushering in the new hydrogen transportation age.
Government, specialty gas companies, other industrial hydrogen and fuel cell companies big and small, the automakers and a meaningful grassroots movement will be needed to motivate this region and all other regions forward.
The Gulf Oil spill is a wakeup call. Let’s just hope we all wake up and suddenly realize that hydrogen cars and infrastructure need to be fast-tracked more than ever to meet our future environmental and energy independence needs.
I can tell you that Austin’s is currently private, used to fuel their fuel cell bus. When the research is complete, I believe the plan is to give the bus and the fueling station to the City to use as part of their public transportation system, and potentially opening the fueling station up to the public. I would note that the fueling station is relatively small and produces hydrogen through steam reformation of natural gas. Also, there is a hydrogran fueling station at a Sysco warehouse in Houston that fuels their fleet of fuel cell forklifts. HEB is also installing fueling for thier fuel cell forklifts in San Antonio, and Nestle-Waters will be for their fuel cell forklifts. But, you are correct that there is no public fueling in TX.
Let’s not kid ourselves. H2 fuel cells aren’t ready yet. When the cost and durability issues are resolved, infrastructure will be a non-issue.
Currently, fuel cell cars wouldn’t make economic sense even if the H2 were free and distributed at every gas station in the country.
The same applies to electric cars which similarly wouldn’t make economic sense even if electricity were free and it took 5 minutes to recharge.
The difference is that battery cars with current technology are one of the foolish things that the government has decided to blow billions and billions of borrowed dollars on.
If H2 car fans read the DOE report, they will see cost and durability of fuel cells are the two issues holding up H2 cars. Until those problems are solved, the auto companies talk about having taxpayers build the infrastructure is just an attempt to use taxpayer handouts to override the economic issues and have the government pick the winner.
Anyone pushing a SOUND alternative fuel should be asking for a consumption tax on oil.
-Mercy
The current Administration has done everything in its power to suppress The Technology.
8 years of advancement under Bush have been squandered in 2 years!
Mercy, you don’t tax fuel unless you want the poor to get poorer. You want oil/gas/diesel to stay cheap so businesses and people can spend less on fuel and more on other consumables. Your idea would destroy the economy. There isn’t enough space here to describe every single ‘every day’ ideas made from oil and oil by products.
The best way to let the next fuel develop is without the government. Let businesses fight it out and let the best tech win. If the government is involved the best lobbyist would win and look today and what that has gotten us… oil spills, banks making bad loans. Socialism/Statistism doesn’t work. Give up on it.
What a great resource!
Adrian — I agree that taxes destroy wealth and create poverty, but that’s exactly what’s happening with the current system. My point is that if the government’s goal is to discourage oil consumption, then a broad oil tax is much more effective than the current approach of pouring tens of billions of dollars down rat holes.
An oil tax could also be revenue-neutral by cutting income taxes and also progressive-neutral (i.e. doesn’t hurt poor people) by cutting payroll taxes.
-Mercy