Green Technology

Governor George Pataki discusses New York's plan for one of the largest hydrogen demonstration projects.  This investment of $21 million will use hydropower to produce clean-burning, hydorgen gas to fuel nonpolluting hydrogen vehicles.  The investment will deliver hydrogen generating stations and the hydrogen-fueled vehicles.  The hydropower-to-hydrogen initiative, planned for Western New York, will spur development of green technology jobs for the region. ...

...   "The hydropower-to-hydrogen project, which is expected to serve a number of hydrogen-fueled work and passenger vehicles and transit buses, corresponds with the New York State Hydrogen Roadmap, a strategic blueprint developed under Governor Pataki's direction for positioning New York State at the forefront of hydrogen research and development efforts nationwide. The document reflects a coordinated effort by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and includes hydrogen education and outreach, hydrogen codes and standards review, and research and development in the areas of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and utilization.

NYPA's Trustees authorized up to $21 million for the hydropower-to-hydrogen initiative, with potential sites at Niagara Falls State Park and at Western New York locations operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). Various other state and federal government organizations and corporations are also expected to partner in the pioneering project, with hydrogen production anticipated by the end of 2007.  The NYPA board's action followed an engineering feasibility study earlier this year by the Power Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), for determining the size of the electrolysis units for producing hydrogen and the possible vehicle demonstration models for the initiative, with fuel cells and other hydrogen engines.  When fully implemented within three years, the demonstration project, consisting of two hydrogen generation stations, plus storage and fueling facilities, will be producing up to 120 kilograms (kg) per day of the clean-burning fuel. (One kg of hydrogen has the energy equivalent of approximately one gallon of gasoline.)  The hydrogen generation and fueling stations will use up to 700 kw of hydropower. The Power Authority would provide the hydropower from its Niagara Power Project to the NFTA, which is authorized to receive NYPA allocations under state law.  The hydrogen generation stations will cost approximately $7.5 million, including infrastructure upgrades and educational displays. An additional investment of $13.5 million is required for the hydrogen-fueled vehicles. "   ...

Via New York Governor Pataki: GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $21 MILLION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO FUEL HYDROGEN VEHICLES AND CREATE NEW HIGH-TECH JOBS FOR WESTERN NY ...