Congress diverts funds for Bush's hydrogen program

Lawmakers send millions for alternative fuel projects to their home districts, leaving little for Energy Department's planned research

By Jeff Nesmith
WASHINGTON BUREAU
Saturday, January 10, 2004
WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department has shelved until next year a challenge it had issued to scientists to solve a key problem in President Bush's vision of a pollution-free hydrogen fuel economy.
The reason: Lawmakers sent most of the money to pet projects back home, leaving too little to fund the research.
Although an Energy Department appropriations bill signed by Bush on Dec. 1 included $28 million of $30 million the department had sought for hydrogen research, half of that amount ended up going to specific projects picked by lawmakers. The other half will be only enough to continue already approved research, leaving none for the new initiative, the department said.

In the late 19th century as China reeled under the attack of western colonial powers. the empress dowager Tz'u Hsi diverted badly need funds to modernize China's navy to build a lavish summer palace. Are we traveling down that same path?

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