WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today joined representatives of Shell and General Motors in the opening of the first hydrogen refueling station in Washington, D.C. This station is the first integrated gasoline / hydrogen station in North America and represents a major step toward realizing President Bush’s goal of reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy by developing new, innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.

“Today’s opening of the hydrogen refueling station is an important step forward as this Administration works toward energy independence and a cleaner environment,” said Secretary Abraham. “Projects like this one help prove that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies work, which will allow private industry to make a future commercialization decision.

“President Bush recognizes that a hydrogen economy has the long-term potential to deliver greater energy independence by reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy,” continued Secretary Abraham.

Shell’s hydrogen station is the centerpiece of a joint demonstration project with General Motors.   The site will be used to refuel General Motors’ fuel cell vehicles in the Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle and Infrastructure Learning Demonstration and Validation Project. This will be the first station to be deployed in a potential Washington, D.C. to New York hydrogen corridor.

Secretary Abraham announced the “Learning Demonstrations” Project on April 28, 2004, as an opportunity to assess important data under real world environments that will re-focus research efforts. The total expected DOE share for the Learning Demonstrations is $190 million over five years, with an additional private cost share of approximately $190 million.

In last year’s State of the Union address, President Bush communicated his vision that “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.” 

Demonstration projects like the one announced today address major technical and economic hurdles in renewable and distributed hydrogen production technologies that must be overcome to make the President’s vision a reality.

For more information, please visit http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/.

Media contact: Chris Kielich, 202/586-5806