Aug. 13, 2004
State, Local Officials and
Consul Dignitaries from Canada, Japan, China, Netherlands, Czech Republic,
Belize, New Zealand, Latvia, South Africa, Switzerland, Philippines, and the
Republic of Georgia joined in the Celebration
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. –With local and state officials and foreign
dignitaries looking on, Terry Tamminen, Secretary of the California
Environmental Protection Agency fueled up a hydrogen-powered fuel cell
vehicle at one of the first hydrogen fueling stations accessible to the
public at the headquarters of the South Coast Air Quality Management
District (AQMD).
The grand opening ceremony was held at AQMD’s Diamond Bar headquarters.
Hydrogen fuel-powered vehicles from Honda, Toyota, and DaimlerChrysler were
fueled at the grand opening ceremony.
AQMD’s facility is among the first of 13 hydrogen-fueling stations
co-funded by AQMD and slated for construction throughout Los Angeles,
Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. These stations will provide
fuel for hydrogen-powered fuel cell and internal-combustion engine vehicles
used in fleet demonstrations throughout the region.
The station will be the first of its kind in California to demonstrate
hydrogen fueling and power production using an internal combustion engine
generator. The electricity produced will be used at AQMD during periods of
peak demand. This hydrogen power will supplement the AQMD’s solar array,
which has long been used to help meet the power needs of the building.
The hydrogen fueling station grand opening drew international interest.
Among those in attendance at the ceremony were consul representatives from
Southern California consular offices, including Canada, Japan, China, South
Africa, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belize, Switzerland, Philippines,
New Zealand, Latvia, and the Republic of Georgia. The hydrogen fueling
station grand opening was a precursor to a premier conference sponsored by
AQMD and titled “Hydrogen – Fueling the Clean Air Future,” on Aug. 16-17, in
Palm Desert.
“This station is a major link in California’s Hydrogen Highway,” said
Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, AQMD Governing Board Member. “And it’s an
important step in ensuring that every Californian has access to hydrogen
fuel produced from clean, stable, renewable sources along our major
transportation corridors. That’s our vision. And this hydrogen fueling
station brings us closer to that vision.”
The AQMD relies on the implementation of
advanced technologies and clean-burning fuels in Southern California to
achieve air quality standards. More near-zero and zero-emission vehicles
are needed and hydrogen vehicles offer high fuel efficiencies and do not
emit any smog-forming pollutants.
The AQMD’s hydrogen fueling station took six
months to complete and is part of a balanced variety of advanced clean air
technology projects, including projects to increase the natural gas
refueling infrastructure, research and demonstration of advanced engine
development, electric hybrid vehicles, stationary power combustion processes
and other clean fuel alternatives.
“We are honored to be chosen as the AQMD's
supplier for hydrogen infrastructure,” commented Jon Slangerup, President
and CEO of Stuart Energy. “We believe that hydrogen infrastructure and
demonstrations will pave the way for the early introduction of
hydrogen-powered vehicles. While there are several near-term alternative
fuel pathways, there is a global consensus that hydrogen is the world's
energy end-game, and this key AQMD project represents one of the first steps
in realizing a future of clean and secure hydrogen energy.”
AQMD is taking a leadership role to ensure
that hydrogen vehicle and fueling technologies mature together. The program
in place at AQMD involves multiple auto manufacturers and a world leader in
hydrogen fueling. AQMD’s program will provide real world experience and
data to further refine the technologies for public use.
“As a leader in fuel cell propulsion,
DaimlerChrysler is ideally suited to deliver a fuel cell powered vehicle for
AQMD's use at this refueling site,” said Mark Chernoby, vice president for
advanced vehicle engineering--Chrysler Group. “Our vehicle is another step
in the real world validation program that we have embarked on with many
partners including the Department of Energy, U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and Fuel Cell Partnership.”
“At Toyota, we believe in the power of learning by doing: in exploring
promising technology firsthand, and in moving – thoughtfully, but
deliberately – from theory to market reality. We’ve done this with hybrids,
and we’re doing it with fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen,” said Dean Kato,
managing counsel for environment at Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc. “We
applaud the AQMD’s leadership in moving us further down the track toward a
hydrogen future by providing a 'hydrogen hub' in Southern California.”
“We're very pleased to have AQMD as a
customer for Honda fuel cell technology,” said Gunnar Lindstrom, senior
manager of Alternative Fuel Programs for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We
applaud the vision and commitment that the leaders of AQMD have demonstrated
by investing in the environment and hydrogen power.”
“By field-testing these technologies, those of us who are concerned with
air quality are taking pro-active steps that will benefit all those who live
and work in Southern California in the not-too-distant future,” said Todd
Campbell, Burbank Councilmember and Policy Director for the Coalition for
Clean Air.
Guest speakers at the grand opening included:
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Terry Tamminen, Secretary, California
Environmental Protection Agency
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Jon Slangerup, President and CEO, Stuart Energy
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Mark Chernoby, Vice President, Advanced Vehicle
Engineering, DaimlerChrysler
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Stephen Ellis, Manager, Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Sales & Marketing, Honda
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Dean Kato, Managing Council, Toyota
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Todd Campbell, Council Member, City of Burbank
and Policy Director, Coalition for Clean Air
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Photo caption, left to right:
DaimlerChrylser’s Mark Chernoby, Vice President of Advanced Vehicle
Engineering, AQMD Board Member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta, and CalEPA Secretary
Terry Tamminen ‘Hydrogen Up’ at the grand opening of AQMD’s Hydrogen Fueling
Station in Diamond Bar. The station is Southern California’s first official
link in Governor Schwarzenneger’s Hydrogen Highway.
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