Alocal environmentalist on Tuesday helped dedicate the first of 200 hydrogen fuel cell stations officials plan to open in California by 2010.
Terry Tamminen, 52, an Ocean Park resident who started two nonprofit environmental organizations before going to work with the state in November, said he expects two dozen such stations to be open by the end of the year, one in Santa Monica.
“This is truly a down payment on our future,” Tamminen said after the Fresno event. “It’s crucial because our gasoline prices have been skyrocketing, and that’s because of the law of supply and demand.
“There might be a disagreement over are we going to get another 20 years out of petroleum or 50,” he said, “but everyone agrees it’s going to run out.”
As secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, Tamminen introduced Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to a crowd of 400 assembled for the event. Schwarzenegger drove up in a hydrogen fuel cell car and filled its tank before speaking from the podium.
Though all the major automobile manufacturers are working on hydrogen fuel cell models, Tamminen said only one company is currently selling them to the public. Anuvu Inc., based in Sacramento, has two models — a Ford pickup truck and a Nissan station wagon — that both go for about $100,000. But Tamminen said prices soon will become competitive.
The Fresno station was officially dedicated as “Station No. 1” on the California Hydrogen Highways Network. The network’s goal is to have 150 to 200 stations by 2010, or one about every 20 miles on each interstate highway throughout California.
Officials estimate that will cost about $90 million, which will be shouldered mostly by private energy companies, automakers, high-tech firms and other companies. There are already 20 hydrogen fuel cell stations statewide that can join the network by selling to the public.
“Californians invent the future and we are about to do it again,” Schwarzenegger said. “We can deal with these problems by investing in a clean hydrogen future, thus bringing jobs, investment and continued economic prosperity to the state. We have an opportunity to prove to the world that a thriving environment and economy can co-exist. This vision for California is real and attainable — however, it will take time, so we must plant the seeds now.”
In Santa Monica, city officials are hoping to have a hydrogen fueling station open by the end of the year. Craig Perkins, director of the environmental works department, said for more than a year City Hall has leased a hydrogen-powered pickup truck from a nonprofit organization for $1 a month. The technology isn’t cutting edge, but they’re studying it while applying for the funding to operate the fueling station, he said.
Tamminen founded Santa Monica BayKeeper, a local environmental watchdog group, and was its executive director for six years. When not in Sacramento, he still works with the Santa Monica-based Environment Now Foundation, a private environmental organization.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 21, 2004. Read the original PDF.