Byron McCormick Resigns from DoE Panel Protesting Fuel Cell Funding Cuts
Byron McCormick Resigns from DoE Panel Protesting Fuel Cell Funding Cuts
WASHINGTON, DC –Recently retired General Motors fuel cell executive J. Byron McCormick resigned from the U.S. Energy Department’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee to protest Secretary Steven Chu’s decision to zero out DoE’s transportation fuel cell budget.
In an e-mail today to Chu, McCormick, until last year GM’s executive director of fuel cell activities (H&FCL Jan. 09), wrote that given his “experience of developing, manufacturing and fielding batteries, EV’s, hybrid vehicles, fuel cells, electric propulsion systems and fuel cell vehicles, and understand the technical, regulatory, environmental and business issues involved, I am both perplexed and confused by your decision to zero the budget.
“Like my colleagues from the other global OEM’s who wrote me this weekend I’ve spent the last 35 years of my life developing real hardware, fielding real hardware, learning the lessons that the customers and real experience teach us and developing business understandings as to what it takes to make a sustainable/viable business with products customers will purchase.”
He added, “I also know that there are many well meaning passionate advocates who do not have that relevant experience and make their cases based on idealized models or non-realistic or scientifically supportable assumptions. So, I in no way mean to demean them or you in my disagreement with your decision.
Wrote McCormick, “However, since I have recently retired to New Mexico, and am as a result being very selective as to where and on what pursuits I spend my time and energy, I have decided to resign from HTAC and focus my attention/experience/knowledge with those who will be moving ahead to make it happen.
“I want to wish you the best of luck in developing an energy policy for the United States.”
