FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2010
Contact: Jesse Broder Van Dyke 202-224-6361
AKAKA HONORED FOR SUPPORT OF CLEAN
RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM HYDROGEN
Jeff Serfass, president of the National Hydrogen Association, presents Senator Daniel K. Akaka
with the Spark Matsunaga Memorial Hydrogen Award Tuesday on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Hydrogen Association presented Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) with the Spark Matsunaga Memorial Hydrogen Award Tuesday in recognition for his work supporting clean renewable energy from hydrogen and its related technologies. The other 2010 recipients are Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"It is critical that we transition away from using energy in ways that pollute our land, air, and oceans to using clean technologies like hydrogen fuel cells," said Senator Akaka. "I am honored to receive this award named for Sparky, who was an early champion of hydrogen technologies here in Congress."
National Hydrogen Association President Jeff Serfass said: "For over two decades Senator Akaka has demonstrated a strong commitment to hydrogen technologies, first by authoring companion legislation in the House to Senator Matsunaga's Hydrogen Development Act, then by succeeding Senator Matsunaga and carrying on his legacy by championing his bill through the Senate. In the years since, he has maintained consistent support of deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technology."
Senator Akaka is a founding member of the Senate Hydrogen Caucus, dedicated to increasing the visibility and understanding of hydrogen energy. Akaka authored the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Act of 2005, which was included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58). This provision led to a hydrogen fuel cell project at Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.
The National Hydrogen Association, founded in 1989, is a membership organization composed of university, research, and business members. Its mission is to foster the development of hydrogen technologies and their utilization in industrial, commercial, and consumer applications and promote the role of hydrogen in the energy field. More info: http://www.hydrogenassociation.org
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