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It was huge news back in May when President Obama and the DOE slashed hydrogen vehicle funding from the FY 2010 DOE budget. Since then, hydrogen advocates like CARB have put on the best possible face and asked the DOE to restore the funds. The first steps towards officially putting H2 back into the federal money stream has now been made in Washington, D.C.

The change comes from the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, run by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) The subcommittee has finished marking up the DOE’s FY 2010 budget and it now includes $190 million for continuation of the terminated hydrogen research and development program. Dorgan said in a release that “because ongoing research and development is necessary to develop game-changing technologies, this bill also restores funding for Hydrogen energy research.” Hydrogen advocate Greg Blencoe notes that the House’s version of hydrogen funding includes $108 million, including $40 million for hydrogen vehicles. The two chambers will reconcile their differences soon, probably within the next two weeks.

There’s a copy of the National Hydrogen Association’s most recent Policy Update after the jump and you can find the subcommittee’s press release on this page (scroll to the middle and click on “Summary of FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations”). DOE head Stephen Chu has made strong comments in favor of the cut. Is a hydrogen political fight brewing in D.C.?

Today President Obama announced 290,000 U.S. jobs were created last month. And he’s vowing more investment in industries like green energy. A recent study shows Ohio is generating new jobs in the alternative sector. The state ranks fifth in the nation in fuel cell research and development. But there is concern that fuel cell development could suffer from a decrease in funding.

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Please join us for a personal tour of an important new technology for providing clean water anywhere it’s needed, along with a host of other benefits even off the grid. “The Hydra,” commercially available for the first time, will be launched nationally next Thursday, May 20, in Hopewell, NJ (55 miles from New York and 43 miles from Philadelphia), with a premiere preview for local media on Wednesday, May 19.

What: Working demonstration of the world’s first mobile water purification and community energy station system, powered by hydrogen produced by solar energy.

Where: Mike Strizki’s first Off-Grid “Solar/Hydrogen Home” in the Western Hemisphere at 26 Snydertown Road in Hopewell, NJ.

When: Wednesday, May 19, 10:30 am – 2pm (preview for local NJ & Philadelphia-area media)

Thursday, May 20, 11 am – 3pm (national launch)

Background: Clean water is the basis of health and economic stability. In today’s world, a lack of access to a stable supply of virus-free water means that hundreds of thousands of people die every year from waterborne illness. The Hydra can bring relief and 20,000 gallons plus of clean water a day (base model) to areas in need, and generate electricity and hospital-grade oxygen at the same time. Using solar/hydrogen power, the Hydra can convert polluted water to 100% virus- and bacteria-free drinking water. Using this unique mobile technology, children and women in third world countries can enjoy education and skills training because they won’t spend their time collecting water from distant wells.

Key applications of The Hydra:

·20,000+ GPD, 24/7 drinking water & Expandable community electric power plant

·Mobile medical clinic (Water, Power, Oxygen)

·Community communication center – telemetry w/ satellite link & Internet access

·Military or relief operations base

·Adaptable, Mobile, Scalable & Power is NEVER wasted – Excess energy is converted to hydrogen for later use in electricity generation, vehicles, cooking, etc.

The Hydra was developed and built by The Essential Element, which consists of water system innovators Brad Carlson and David Squires, and renowned renewable hydrogen pioneer, Mike Strizki. It is unique in the field of water purification because it combines the highest quality water purification with a state-of-the-art solar/hydrogen fuel cell power that can deliver electrical energy from stored hydrogen and a hydrogen fuel cell.

Leaders of relief organizations, elected officials, members of the media and disaster planers are invited to see The Hydra operate and discuss its applications with the principals of The Essential Element, the company that is producing The Hydra. A working model will be on display, and orders are now being taken for commercially available models starting at $99,500.