I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 655
To authorize the hydrogen research, development, and demonstration
programs of the Department of Energy, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 24, 1995
Mr. WALKER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science
A BILL
To authorize the hydrogen research, development, and dem-
onstration programs of the Department of Energy, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hydrogen Future Act
of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) fossil fuels, the main energy source of the
present, have provided this country with tremendous
supply but are limited and polluting, and their pro-
duction and utilization technologies are mature;
(2) the basic scientific fundamentals are needed
for private sector investment and development of
new and better energy sources and enabling tech-
nologies;
(3) hydrogen holds tremendous promise as a
new and better energy source because it secures a
practically infinite supply from water and combusts
purely to water;
(4) hydrogen production efficiency is a major
technical barrier to society collectively benefitting
from one of the great energy sources of the future;
(5) an aggressive, results-oriented, multiyear re-
search initiative on efficient hydrogen fuel produc-
tion and use should continue; and
(6) the current Federal effort to develop hydro-
gen as a fuel is inadequate.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to provide for the research and development
of the basic scientific fundamentals, and the dem-
onstration of the processes and technologies, needed
to produce, store, transport, and utilize hydrogen for
transportation, industrial, residential, and utility ap-
plications; and
(2) to foster industry participation during each
stage of the Department of Energy hydrogen re-
search, development, and demonstration program to
ensure that technology transfer to the private sector
occurs to develop viable, marketable products.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘demonstration’’ means a dem-
onstration to determine technical feasibility;
(2) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart-
ment of Energy; and
(3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Energy.
SEC. 5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION.
(a) PROGRAM GOAL.—The goal of the program de-
scribed in this section is the demonstration of the technical
feasibility of efficiently utilizing hydrogen for transpor-
tation, industrial, residential and utility applications by
the year 2000.
(b) PRODUCTION.—The Secretary shall support hy-
drogen energy production research and development in the
following areas, leading to at least 2 technical demonstra-
tions in each such area:
(1) 
Chemical 
conversion, 
including
photoproduction.
(2) Bioconversion.
(3) Electrolysis.
(c) STORAGE.—The Secretary shall support research
and development of safe and economical storage of hydro-
gen, both for onboard vehicle and stationary use. Such re-
search and development should be aimed at improving ex-
isting methods and developing new approaches in each of
the following areas, leading to at least 1 technical dem-
onstration in each such area:
(1) Hydrides and porous materials.
(2) Liquefaction and cryogenics.
(3) Compressed gas.
(4) Advanced methods, such as microspheres
and new materials.
(d) TRANSPORTATION.—The Secretary shall support
research and development of efficient, hydrogen-based
transportation vehicles of the following types, leading to
at least 1 technical demonstration of each such type:
(1) An economically feasible, low emission
motor vehicle using hydrogen, in pure form or mixed
with other fuels, as a combustible power supply.
(2) An economically feasible, zero emission
motor vehicle using hydrogen.
(e) OTHER USES.—The Secretary shall support hy-
drogen energy research and development for each of the
following uses, leading to at least 1 technical demonstra-
tion in each such area:
(1) Electricity generation using hydrogen as a
fuel source for utility and industrial applications.
(2) Heating and cooling using hydrogen.
(3) Hydrogen fuel jet engine.
(f) SCHEDULE.—Within 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall solicit proposals
for carrying out the research and development activities
authorized under this section. Awards of financial assist-
ance shall be made within 1 year after such date of enact-
ment.
(g) COST SHARING.—(1) Except as otherwise pro-
vided in section 6, for research and development programs
carried out under this Act, the Secretary shall require a
commitment from non-Federal sources of at least 20 per-
cent of the cost of the project. The Secretary may reduce
or eliminate the non-Federal requirement under this para-
graph if the Secretary determines that the research and
development is of a basic or fundamental nature.
(2) The Secretary shall require at least 50 percent
of the costs directly and specifically related to any dem-
onstration project under this Act to be provided from non-
Federal sources. The Secretary may reduce the non-Fed-
eral requirement under this paragraph if the Secretary de-
termines that the reduction is necessary and appropriate
considering the technological risks involved in the project
and is necessary to serve the purposes and goals of this
Act.
(3) In calculating the amount of the non-Federal
commitment under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary
shall include cash, personnel, services, equipment, and
other resources.
(h) DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS.—Nothing in this
Act shall require the duplication of activities carried out
under otherwise authorized programs of the Department.
SEC. 6. HIGHLY INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
Of the amounts made available for carrying out sec-
tion 5, up to 5 percent shall be used to support research
on highly innovative energy technologies. Such amounts
shall not be subject to the cost sharing requirements in
section 5(g).
SEC. 7. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.
The Secretary shall foster the exchange of generic,
nonproprietary information and technology developed pur-
suant to section 5, or other similar Federal programs,
among industry, academia, and the Federal Government.
SEC. 8. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Within 18 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit
to the Congress a detailed report on the status and
progress of the Department’s hydrogen research, develop-
ment, and demonstration programs. Such report shall in-
clude an analysis of the effectiveness of such programs,
to be prepared and submitted by the Hydrogen Technical
Advisory Panel established under section 108 of the Spark
M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and
Demonstration Act of 1990. Such Panel shall also make
recommendations for improvements to such programs if
needed, including recommendations for additional legisla-
tion.
SEC. 9. COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION.
(a) COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES.—The Secretary shall coordinate all hydrogen re-
search, development, and demonstration activities with
other Federal agencies involved in similar research, devel-
opment, and demonstration, including the Department of
Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration.
(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult
with the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel established
under section 108 of the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen
Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1990
as necessary in carrying out this Act.
SEC. 10. REPEAL.
Sections 104 and 105 of the Spark M. Matsunaga
Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Act
of 1990 are repealed.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated, to carry out the purposes of this
Act, in addition to any amounts made available for such
purposes under other Acts—
(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1996;
(2) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1997; and
(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
(b) USE OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts ap-
propriated under subsection (a) for each fiscal year—
(1) 30 percent shall be used for programs
under section 5(b);
(2) 20 percent shall be used for programs
under section 5(c);
(3) 30 percent shall be used for programs
under section 5(d); and
(4) 20 percent shall be used for programs
under section 5(e).
(c) RELATED AUTHORIZATIONS.—(1) For each of the
fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, the total amount which
may be obligated for Energy Supply Research and Devel-
opment Activities shall not exceed the total amount obli-
gated for such activities in fiscal year 1995.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not author-
ize the appropriation of any Federal funds.
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