Bush pushes hydrogen fuel on Earth Day

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — President Bush had an Earth Day message for drivers worried about soaring gasoline prices: The nation must move more quickly toward widespread use of hydrogen-powered cars.

Running vehicles on hydrogen fuel cells would help reduce oil consumption, as the technology does not require gasoline, and lower pollution, as they emit only water. But the technology is far from being a reality in the marketplace; the cells are prohibitively expensive and require a new distribution system to replace today's gas stations.

Bush is proposing to spend additional federal research dollars to help speed the process, but it still would be many years off.

"I strongly believe hydrogen is the fuel of the future. That's what we're talking about," he said. "It has the potential, a vast potential, to dramatically cut our dependence on foreign oil. Hydrogen is clean, hydrogen is domestically produced and hydrogen is the way of the future."

The president spoke on a visit to the California Fuel Cell Partnership, a collection of 31 organizations such as car makers, energy providers, government agencies and fuel-cell companies that promotes the commercialization of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Bush, who was met by handful of protesters, checked out several fuel-cell vehicles and a hydrogen fueling station. "It's important what we're doing here because we got a real problem when it comes to oil," he said.

With gas prices rising months before fall congressional elections, Bush can do little but express sympathy for families and businesses. The energy plan he wants Congress to pass, which also boost federal research into batteries for hybrid and electric cars and renewable fuels, does not include any measures that would reduce pump costs in the short term.

The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline nationwide is $2.855, according to AAA's daily fuel-gauge report. In the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metropolitan area, the average price early Saturday was $2.906 a gallon. In parts of the country, including Seattle, the price has topped $3.

In the Democratic response to Bush's weekly radio address, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida warned of "economic havoc" if a terrorist attack sinks a supertanker or a hurricane shuts down oil refineries in the Gulf Coast. "Whatever the cause, the crisis is coming," he said.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of House Democrats' campaign arm, criticized Bush and Congress GOP leadership for subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies. "The Republican Congress can't stop taking oil money and can't stop sending billion-dollar giveaways to their friends in the oil industry," he said.

The president spent Friday night in a resort in Napa Valley's wine country and started off a leisurely Saturday schedule with a punishing bike ride in a redwood state forest. He told his audience he was impressed with the area's beauty, but it was "a little hillier than I would have liked."

Seattle Times staff contributed to this report.