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“CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003 REGARDING TITLE VIII--HYDROGEN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2447 on Nov. 23, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 6, ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 2003 REGARDING TITLE
VIII--HYDROGEN
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speech of
HON. W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN
of louisiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chairman of Conference Committee on H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2003, as well as Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over national energy policy as well as the production, storage, supply, marketing, pricing and regulation of energy resources, including unconventional energy resources, I am taking this opportunity to elaborate on and clarify both the legislative provisions and Statement of Managers that is contained in the conference report on H.R. 6 regarding Title VIII, Hydrogen.
On April 1, 2003 and April 2, 2003, the Energy and Commerce Committee met in mark up session to consider a committee print, the Energy Policy Act of 2003. On April 2, 2003, the Energy and Commerce Committee voted to approve the committee print and report this legislation to the full House of Representatives. This committee print contained, among other provisions, Title V, Vehicle and Fuels, Subtitle B, FreedomCar and Hydrogen Fuel Program.
H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2003, was subsequently introduced in the House of Representatives on April 7, 2003. H.R. 6 contained the legislative work product of the Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as other committees. Hydrogen provisions in H.R. 6 concerning the
``FreedomCar'' and hydrogen fuel and infrastructure program were consolidated in Division F--Hydrogen. The conference report on H.R. 6 contains Title VIII, Hydrogen, which is based on Division F of H.R. 6, incorporating several elements of S. 14.
The program established under Title VIII of the committee print provides for the production of hydrogen from diverse energy sources, including conventional and renewable energy sources. It also provides for the use of hydrogen in electric power generation and the safe delivery of hydrogen and hydrogen-carrier fuels. The program additionally encompasses advanced vehicle technologies, including automobile materials, energy storage, propulsion and hybrid systems.
Although Title VIII contains necessary appropriations to the Secretary of Energy to fund the activities authorized by the Title, central to the operation of this federal program is the public/private partnership required under Section 803(a). This partnership is reflected within the section 803(b)(1)(A) programmatic goal, specifically the directive to ``enable a commitment by automakers no later than year 2015 to offer for sale'' hydrogen fuel vehicles. Section 803(b)(2) contains a corresponding programmatic goal of obtaining a private sector commitment, not later than 2015, for necessary hydrogen infrastructure. Under sections 803(b)(1)(A) and 803(b)(2), both the vehicle and infrastructure commitments are followed, by five years, with availability, in the mass consumer market, of vehicles and safe and convenient refueling capacity.
Title VIII, therefore, incorporates the public/private partnership regarding the production of hydrogen fuels, associated hydrogen vehicles and necessary support infrastructure at a basic structural level. Section 803(a)(7), in particular, indicates that the development of necessary codes and standards needed to implement the program take place ``after consultation with the private sector.'' This statutory directive applies to the production, distribution, storage and use of hydrogen, hydrogen-carrier fuels, and related products. Statutory authority conveyed to the Secretary of Energy for the promulgation of
``necessary codes and standards'' is to be interpreted by the Department of Energy in conformance with the ordinary and regular practice concerning these legislative terms.
The concept of public/private partnership in implementation of the program established through Title VIII is additionally reflected in section 803(d) requiring the conduct of activities to deploy hydrogen energy and energy infrastructure, fuel cells and advanced vehicle technologies. It should be noted that this deployment activity is separate and apart from section 803(c) which requires the Secretary of energy to fund a limited number of demonstration projects. This separation of demonstration and deployment activities is intentional and reflects the fact that such required elements of the hydrogen program are distinct entities.
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