Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2007: International Conference & Trade Show
Vancouver, BC, Canada, April 29 - May 02, 2007
Hydrogen highway to become reality
Plans to expand to San Diego by 2010
The British Columbia government has come up with the cash to follow
through on its plan to develop the world’s first hydrogen bus fleet.
Premier Gordon Campbell told an international hydrogen and fuel cells
conference yesterday the province will provide $45 million toward the
production of 20 buses and development of hydrogen fuelling stations in
Whistler and Victoria.
He said B.C.’s goal is to have the fuel-cell buses on the road by the end
of 2009, showcasing the province’s commitment to reducing greenhouse
gases.
"I'm sure most of you … have heard things like ‘it’s much too expensive,
it will never work, you will never get there, it’s way too far off, why
hasn’t it happened yet?’ … all those things were the same things being
said about automobiles 100 years ago," he said.
Campbell said the funding will ensure a hydrogen highway running from
Whistler to Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria will become a reality, while
British Columbia works with U.S. partners to extend the hydrogen highway
to San Diego by 2010.
The government committed in the throne speech that a federal-provincial
partnership would invest $89 million for the project, of which $10 million
was dedicated in November to the development of a pre-production hydrogen
fuel cell bus.
The remaining $34 million will be used by B.C. Transit to operate the
fleet for up to five years.
CANADIAN PRESS
Metro Vancouver Newspaper, page 4
published May 1, 2007
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