Hawaii keeps U.S. in the race for hydrogen fuel

The world is racing to adopt alternative fuels and many governments have placed their hopes on hydrogen.

Germany, China and the United Kingdom are among the staunchest advocates for the fuel and have gone to great length to develop a working transportation infrastructure as well as utilize the fuel for industrial purposes. The common consensus among these nations is that a change must be made now to pull the entirety of the world from the brink of a perilous energy crisis.

The United States is not to be counted out of the race for hydrogen, however, according to a study released by Fuel Cells 2000, a non-profit project that provides detailed analysis of the hydrogen market around the world. The report, titled “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America,” finds that Hawaii is the state showing the most promise in terms of hydrogen incorporation.

“Supportive state policies are helping foster fuel cell installations and company relocations,” says Jennifer Gangi, program director for Fuel Cells 2000.

Hawaii’s eagerness to adopt fuel cell technology has placed the U.S. in a position to compete with Japan, Korea and Germany. This is in spite of steep budget cuts to the research and development of hydrogen technologies from the federal government.

Hawaii edged out California, the traditional leader in the nation’s eco-friendly efforts, for the top spot in the report. The state is home to one of the most extensive hydrogen fuel infrastructures in the country and will be the launching ground for several new hydrogen-powered vehicles being release within the next few years.