Governor Schwarzenegger Announces the California Hydrogen Highways Network

April 20, 2004

Governor Schwarzenegger today announced the California Hydrogen Highways Network through the signing of an Executive order creating a public and private partnership to build a Hydrogen Highway in California by 2010. At a ceremony at UC Davis, he christened Station #1 on California Hydrogen Highway by fueling a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle at the pump. He was joined by UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and members of his cabinet, CalEPA Secretary Terry Tamminen, Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman, and Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary Sunny McPeak.

The California Hydrogen Highway Network initiative is a down payment on securing California's future in the areas of air quality, public health, energy security, and national security. The citizens of California have endured frequent gasoline price spikes and the State is facing critical shortages in refining capacity, which will drive prices even higher.

"Californians invent the future and we are about to do it again. We can deal with these problems by investing in a clean hydrogen future, thus bringing jobs, investment, and continued economic prosperity to the state. We have an opportunity to prove to the world that a thriving environment and economy can co-exist. This vision for California is real and attainable; however, it will take time so we must plant the seeds now," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

The goal of the California hydrogen Highway Network initiative is to support and catalyze a rapid transition to clean hydrogen transportation economy in California.

"To expedite the transition of our transportation system away from petroleum fuels, towards hydrogen fuel and vehicles, experts point to the crucial need for a hydrogen fueling infrastructure and the necessary leadership to make it a reality," said Secretary Tamminen.

An early network of only 150 to 200 hydrogen-fueling stations throughout the State (approximately one station every 20 miles on the State's major highways) would make hydrogen fuel available to the vast majority of Californians.

Studies show that California's Hydrogen Highway Network is achievable by 2010 and will help demonstrate the economic and technical viability of hydrogen technologies. The California Fuel Cell Partnership and others estimate that this initial low-volume fueling network will cost approximately $90 million, the majority of this investment coming from private investment by energy companies, automakers, high-tech firms, and other companies.