Transportation (Opposing Viewpoints)

1. Claims about the promise of hydrogen are more hype than hope. 2. The hydrogen economy rests on two pillars: a pollution free source for hydrogen and a device for converting hydrogen into useful energy without generating pollution. 3. The Sure Power offers uninterruptible power supplies, batteries and standby diesel generator for corporate data centers as supply back-up power in case of grid power outage. First National Bank was the first to install the most reliable power source combining fuel cells with other advanced energy and electronic devices. The Sure power system had less than 1 percent chance of failure verses 63 percent over 20 year failure chance by traditional methods. 4. John Bockris said, "hydrogen economy means that hydrogen would be used to transport energy from renewable over large distances; and to store it in large amounts." Our cars, our homes, our industries would be powered by non polluting fuels. Hydrogen production from renewables must drop in price and US energy policies must allow competition to decrease price. 5. Fueling cars from natural gas makes no sense, either economically or environmentally. 6. Most companies are conservative about purchasing and deploying new technologies. A small number of companies are first adopters, the vast majority only buy after the commodity has a proven track record and a very rapid payback. 7. In cities big and small, too many vehicles in too little space has led to traffic congestion, a problem that cannot be resolved simply by building more highways. 8. Public transportation system can conserve energy and space and strengthen city centers by connecting people from rural areas and those with limited mobility to the culture and opportunities available in the city. 9. Why did the railroad industry abandon its commuter rail service in the 1950s? The key challenge of urban transportation system is congestion, too many vehicles in too little space. Congestion is linked to urbanization which concentrates people and activities and industrialization separating specialized activities at home and work. In the 1950s the rail road abandon commuter services for reasons of lacking profit. American's love for cars, consumption of gas (1.4 billion gallons a year), freedom of movement, and valuation of time efficiency (auto transportation reduced commute time) caused migration from mass transportation to individual auto transportation. City government lobbied the federal government to support mass transit in urban areas. 10. Why is public transit more essential to urban health and welfare in the 21st century? Cities are where the talent, ideas, and opportunities reside. Systems for eliminating congestion need to be designed and build allowing trains, buses, planes, automobiles to reliably transport their commerce without congestion. Age, income, or health should not be a barrier for the transportation requirements, mobility for all citizens. The system must reduce the cost per trip,