The author looks at the environmental cost of mining for platinum which will become even more necessary in a hydrogen fueled economy.
Widespread hydrogen use has been enthusiastically embraced by major corporations and environmentalists alike as a panacea for global warming and the depletion of fossil fuels, and is a particular favorite of the Bush administration. But skeptics, and even some hydrogen advocates, say that use of hydrogen could instead make the air dirtier and the globe warmer.
"The current trend toward a hydrogen economy presents DOD with some special challenges, because a pure hydrogen fuel likely will not satisfy many DOD requirements. The resolution of this problem will take decades. DOD should engage on this issue in the near term in order to influence and leverage the national hydrogen initiative and to have in place an infrastructure to assure that DOD energy needs are met, in particular those related to fuel requirements for low-altitude, high-performance aircraft missions."
Jeremy Rifkin proposes setting up a decentralized energy system, similar to the internet, to reduce vulnerability to blackouts.
A new report argues that raising fuel efficiency and toughening environmental standards are cheaper ways to cut air pollution and reduce oil imports than developing hydrogen powered cars.
While hydrogen is touted as a clean fuel waiting to replace fossil energy sources, a new study concludes its widespread use could increase damage to the ozone layer that protects Earth from ultraviolet radiation. The report says such tradeoffs shouldn't prevent development of hydrogen fuel cells, but they should be taken into account when considering what measures might be needed to limit any environmental downside of a hydrogen-fuel economy.
Wired magazine feature article on a five-step plan to convert the U.S. to a hydrogen fuel economy and the benefits from doing so.
The Economist cautions that because hydrogen requires significant amounts of energy to extract in its pure form, the hype over hydrogen fuel-cells is premature.
The author evaluates the possibility that China might pursue a hydrogen energy and fuel cell based economy.
Jeremy Rifkin argues that there will be an energy "regime change" as fossil fuels become too expensive and politically problematic and hydrogen fuel and fuel cells become more viable.