Challenges - Research and Innovative Technology Administration ...

Fe d e r a l In t e r a g e n c y Co o r d i n at i o n
To better leverage Federal research and other activities, a staff-level Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Interagency
Working Group (IWG) under the National Science and Technology Council has held monthly meetings
since 2003. More than 10 Federal agencies use the IWG as a forum for sharing research results, technical
expertise, and lessons learned about hydrogen and fuel cell program implementation and technology
deployment. The IWG also facilitates coordinating related projects to ensure efficient use of taxpayer
dollars. IWG members include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Homeland
Security, State and Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, National Science Foundation, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science and
Technology Policy, and U.S. Postal Service.
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT, section 806) mandated the creation of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
Interagency Task Force (ITF). The ITF is comprised of senior-level representatives from the agencies participating
in the IWG. The ITF has the ability to make departmental decisions that can influence the development
and implementation of hydrogen and fuel cell programs. Work resulting from decisions by the ITF
is complemented and supported by the staff-level IWG. To date, the ITF has focused its efforts on Federal
leadership of early technology adoption and opportunities for interagency partnerships to demonstrate
and deploy hydrogen fuel cell technologies in early market applications. In 2005, the task force created a
website at www.hydrogen.gov to provide information on all Federal hydrogen and fuel cell activities.
Challenges of Building a Hydrogen Infrastructure 37