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H-Prize energy bill passes committee, promising innovation toward energy security
Bill would promote key technological breakthroughs in moving to a hydrogen economy
(May 23, 2007)
Promoted as one more step to spur national energy security, the H-Prize Act of 2007, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Bob Inglis (R-SC) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), unanimously passed the full House Science Committee by voice vote Wednesday.
The bill passed overwhelmingly in the 109th Congress, 416-6, but stalled in the Senate. The version passed Wednesday included changes its sponsors hope would make it acceptable to the Senate for passage and signing by President Bush. With three levels of prizes ranging from $1 million to a grand prize of at least $10 million, the H-Prize would do for hydrogen energy development what the Ansari X-Prize did for private space flight, Inglis said.
“With the H-Prize, entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators would form teams to develop breakthroughs to a hydrogen future,” Inglis said.
Passage of the bill comes as gasoline prices hit record highs. The high prices are a reminder that the country must act imaginatively and innovate to break its addiction to oil and to ensure its energy security, Inglis said.
“The goal of the prize is to develop the most non-governmental way to break through to a hydrogen economy,” he added. “Our history tells us that what starts with an imaginative dream or vision typically finishes in a legacy of American innovation.”
- Technological Advancements – Four prizes of up to $1 million awarded biennially in the categories of hydrogen Production, Storage, Distribution and Utilization;
- Prototypes – One prize of up to $4 million awarded biennially that forces working hydrogen vehicle prototypes to meet ambitious performance goals; and
- Transformational Technologies – One grand prize consisting of a $10 million cash award, funded in whole or in part by federal contribution. The goal of $40 million in additional matching funds could be awarded for development of wells-to-wheels breakthrough technologies.
The bill would authorize appropriations during fiscal years 2008 through 2017 totaling:
- $20 million for the Technical Advancement prizes;
- $20 million for the Prototypes prizes (awards in these two categories alternate each year);
- $10 million for a single Transformational Technologies grand prize; and
- $2 million for administrative and advertising costs for the first-two years”