2005 SESSION

INTRODUCED

059190804

1 HOUSE BILL NO. 2913

2 Offered January 21, 2005

3 A BILL to direct the Office of the Secretary of Technology to develop the Virginia Hydrogen Energy

4 Plan.

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Patrons––Welch; Senator: Bolling

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7 Referred to Committee on Science and Technology

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9 Whereas, the formulation of a plan to make Virginia a leader in the development of hydrogen as a

10 source of energy will ensure that government and the private sector work efficiently and cooperatively in

11 such endeavor; now, therefore,

12 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

13 1. § 1. That the Office of the Secretary of Technology shall develop the Virginia Hydrogen Energy Plan,

14 as follows:

15 A. As used in this section, "Virginia Hydrogen Energy Plan" or "Plan" means a plan that identifies

16 clear and specific actions, to be implemented over a period not to exceed five years, by state and local

17 governmental agencies, individuals, and business entities, that are necessary or appropriate to make the

18 Commonwealth a leading state in the production and use of hydrogen.

19 B. The Plan shall include, among such other elements as the Office of the Secretary of Technology

20 deems appropriate, the following:

21 1. Encouraging Virginia's institutions of higher education to develop curricula to train engineers,

22 managers, and workers in the field of hydrogen-based energy;

23 2. Educating Virginians about the advantages and importance of a hydrogen economy;

24 3. Recommending all necessary legislation to advance the purposes of the Plan;

25 4. Ascertaining whether any federal assistance and matching funds are available to further the

26 objective of advancing Virginia's status as a leader in a hydrogen-based economy;

27 5. Promoting the Commonwealth as the premier location for hydrogen producers and fuel cell and

28 hydrogen reformer manufacturers;

29 6. Ensuring that the input of other state agencies, local governments, and nongovernmental

30 organizations is considered through the establishment of a statewide hydrogen task force; and

31 7. Identifying the appropriate roles of government and the private sector in developing an

32 infrastructure that will make the broad-based acceptance of hydrogen as an energy source likely.

33 C. The Office of the Secretary of Technology shall submit the Plan to the Governor and to the

34 chairmen of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor and the House Committee on Science and

35 Technology by December 1, 2006.

36 D. Following delivery of the Plan as required by subsection C, the Office of the Secretary of

37 Technology shall:

38 1. Monitor the implementation of the Plan and other developments in the Commonwealth and other

39 states with respect to the introduction of hydrogen energy and related topics;

40 2. Develop any appropriate modifications to the Plan; and

41 3. Annually submit reports to the Joint Commission on Science and Technology regarding the

42 implementation of the Plan and Virginia's status as a leader among states in advancing the evolution of

43 its economy to one based on the use of hydrogen energy.

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