"Through the hydrogen programs at the EERC, we are breaking down the barriers, bringing down costs, and shortening the timetable to the point where hydrogen will be a major component of our national energy future," said EERC Director Gerald Groenewold, who provided welcome remarks. The EERC was a cosponsor of the event.

The EERC currently has more than $40 million in funded hydrogen projects with more than 70 corporate partners. U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, who sponsors the Action Summit through his Red River Valley Research Corridor, provided cornerstone funding for and created the EERC's National Center for Hydrogen Technology (NCHT).

Dorgan, who gave a keynote address during the Summit, has supported billions in federal funding to invest in national hydrogen technology programs around the country through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This funding has included $10.85 million to create and fund research at the NCHT at the EERC. He's also pushed for federal targets and timetables for hydrogen research and development.

"Senator Dorgan has awarded more than $10 million in federal funds over the past four fiscal years in recognition of the EERC's expertise in hydrogen production and utilization technologies, which we have leveraged into $40 million, soon to be over $60 million, in contracts," Groenewold said.

Carl Bauer, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, which administers the federal funding to the EERC's hydrogen program, believes that hydrogen utilization expansion will occur in stages.

"We have a huge opportunity with hydrogen, but we just can't step up to the plate fast enough," Bauer said.

Bauer said near-term production will be from natural gas and electrolysis. The midterm, which we are entering, will involve reforming and/or gasification of coal or biomass and solar and wind to hydrogen. In the long term, large amounts of hydrogen will be produced from thermochemical conversion from nuclear power.

The Summit also included a keynote presentation by Keith Cole, Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Strategies and Legislative Affairs at General Motors (GM) Corporation, who provided four GM Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicles for Summit attendees and the public to ride and drive throughout the day. The vehicles were on display as part of GM's Project Driveway, which is providing consumers a chance to experience the newest additions to GM's fleet.

"These vehicles are tangible proof that hydrogen fuel cells are fast becoming one of the ways America will fuel its future," Senator Byron Dorgan said. "Not only is this technology better for the environment than internal combustion engines, it's a way to help reduce America's dependence on foreign energy. That's why I've used my positions on the Senate's Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources Committees to significantly advance hydrogen programs in this country. It's also why I've helped increase hydrogen research and development right here in the Red River Valley Research Corridor."

The EERC is dedicating its new $3.5 million NCHT facility tomorrow, Friday, September 5, 2008, which was constructed with $2.5 million in funding from the North Dakota Centers of Excellence Commission, $500,000 from the City of Grand Forks, and another $500,000 from the EERC.

"The Centers of Excellence application required a 2-to-1 match of funds from nonstate sources and a strong commitment from the private sector-the EERC's proposal offered a 4-to-1 match immediately, and today, we are providing about a 17-to-1 match," Groenewold said.

The dedication ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday morning in the west parking lot of the EERC property.