This morning's column in the CR Gazette by Washington Post writer Anne Applebaum has relevance for this bill in my opinion. Things are never as clean as we sometimes would like to assume. To see the column on the Washington Post site, one needs to register (its free). The column is from February 8 on silencing scientists including those studying the use of hydrogen as fuel.

Linda Scarth

From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Thomas Mathews
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 3:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Very interesting energy bill

This is the text of one of the bills that our Chapter lobbyist, Lyle Krewson, is tracking in the current session of the legislature.

This bill could have major importance in making wind-generated electricity a replacement for fossil fuel generation of electricity--hydrogen would be stored for later use in fuel cells to produce electricity. The hydrogen would be produced by electrolysis of water by means of wind-generated electricity.

This energy storage system would mean that electricity from wind generators would be available for use at any time, including when there was no wind.

My apologies for formatting problems.
Tom

House File 2103

                                    HOUSE FILE
                                    BY WHITAKER, KRESSIG, THOMAS,
                                        HEDDENS, FREVERT, D. OLSON,
                                        COHOON, RAYHONS, SWAIM,
                                        FOEGE, GASKILL, SHOULTZ,
                                        D. TAYLOR, KUHN, REICHERT,
                                        and WHITEAD

   Passed House, Date               Passed Senate, Date
   Vote: Ayes        Nays           Vote: Ayes        Nays
                Approved

                                     A BILL FOR

1 An Act to require a hydrogen production study and pilot project
2    by the Iowa energy center.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 5547HH 81
5 kk/cf/24

PAG LIN

1 1    Section 1. HYDROGEN PRODUCTION STUDY == PILOT PROJECT.
1 2    1. The Iowa energy center at the Iowa state university of
1 3 science and technology shall conduct a study according to the
1 4 following:
1 5    a. Focusing on the feasibility of using a combination of
1 6 wind, electrolysis, and fuel cells to generate electricity,
1 7 but also to utilize the heat produced as a by=product of the
1 8 electric generation.
1 9    b. Determining capital costs, real costs, and rate payer
1 10 costs associated with implementation of such an energy source
1 11 on a larger scale.
1 12    2. a. The Iowa energy center shall conduct a small=scale
1 13 pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of an energy
1 14 source as described in subsection 1. The Iowa energy center
1 15 shall set the parameters of the pilot project, including the
1 16 number of participants, the duration, and other pertinent
1 17 factors.
1 18    b. Funding for the pilot project may be composed from any
1 19 or all of the following sources:
1 20    (1) Moneys appropriated by the general assembly for the
1 21 pilot project.
1 22    (2) Moneys appropriated by the general assembly for the
1 23 activities of the Iowa energy center.
1 24    (3) Gift or grant moneys obtained by the Iowa energy
1 25 center or pilot project participants for the pilot project,
1 26 including but not limited to federal matching grants such as
1 27 those available from the United States department of
1 28 education, the United States environmental protection agency,
1 29 or the United States department of agriculture.
1 30    Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or
1 31 earnings on moneys designated for use for the pilot project
1 32 shall be credited for use by the pilot project.
1 33 Notwithstanding section 8.33, the funds in the account of the
1 34 Iowa energy center designated for use for the pilot project
1 35 shall not revert at the end of any fiscal year.
2 1    c. The Iowa energy center shall produce a report for the
2 2 general assembly, due annually on January 15 until the pilot
2 3 project has concluded, summarizing the progress and the
2 4 findings of the pilot project.
2 5                           EXPLANATION
2 6    This bill provides for a pilot project to be established by
2 7 the Iowa energy center to study and test the feasibility of an
2 8 energy source that combines the use of wind, electrolysis, and
2 9 fuel cells to generate electricity, but also to utilize the
2 10 heat produced as a by=product of the electric generation. The
2 11 center is directed to prepare an annual report for the general
2 12 assembly on the progress of the pilot project. Funding for
2 13 the project may come from internal funds of the Iowa energy
2 14 center, from the general assembly, or from gift or grant
2 15 moneys.
2 16 LSB 5547HH 81
2 17 kk:rj/cf/20

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