Edward Cohen, American Honda Senate Briefing

Jun 22, 2009

Edward Cohen, Vice President, Government and Industry Relations, American Honda Motor Co.

Hydrogen Congressional Briefing

June 12th, 2009
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in Transportation: the Future is Arriving – A Briefing in the U.S. Senate

The briefing was held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 628 in front of an audience of more than 100 people. The room was packed with staff from Congressional offices as well as individuals from a variety of federal agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, associations, private industry and the media.

Jerome Hinkle, the NHA’s Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, was the moderator and opened with a brief overview of the strategic value of hydrogen energy technologies. This set the stage for a discussion of the U.S. Department of Energy’s FY 2010 Budget Request which slashed hydrogen and fuel cell investment by 66% and would eliminate the Hydrogen Program.

The presenters were:

  • Edward Kiczek, Air Products and Chemicals
  • Robert Wimmer, Toyota Motor North America
  • Keith Cole, General Motors
  • Sascha Simon, Mercedes-Benz USA
  • Edward Cohen, American Honda Motor Company

There was strong convergence among all of the presenters on the significant public benefits and critical importance of continuing public investment in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Public policy and budget appropriation decisions should not pick technology winners prematurely.

Presentations

Supporting Documents

For more information about Policy activity for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, please visit:
http://www.hydrogenassociation.org/policy/