Ramanis 1

Marlena Ramanis
Mr. Burchett
U.S. Government Pd. 3
26 October, 2016
The Positive Effects of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
The planet is heating up, which means ice caps are melting, the prairies are turning into
dust bowls, and endangered species are suffering dehabitation. All for what? Greenhouse gases
are trapping solar energy in our atmosphere and are the root cause of all of these issues. Solving
these issues comes with one solution; to stop the production of these greenhouse gases. Cars are
one of the number one sources of the production of these gases, and to use an alternative source
of power for these vehicles would mean a great reduction in the release of these gases in our
environment. The U.S. Government should directly fund the research and production of
Hydrogen fuel cells, because they are better for the environment. Directly funding fuel cells
would decrease air pollutants that affect our health, strongly support our economy, and protect
our environment.
Hydrogen fuel cells are an immensely beneficial source of energy due to their ability to
not produce harmful and toxic gasses. In urban areas, harmful automotive emissions are
responsible for between fifty and ninety percent of air pollution (Smith). These automobile
emissions are filled with toxic chemicals that are unsafe to breathe in. Hydrogen fuel cells would
solve this issue, because they can be used in vehicles for power and would not produce any
harmful gasses; only water. Funding of the research of these cells is important, so they could be
produced in mass quantities to replace the vehicles that are the cause of the toxic environment in

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urban areas. These harmful air conditions are also the cause of certain illnesses. The
Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the air toxics emitted from cars and truckswhich include Benzene, Acetadehyde, and 1,3- butadeine- account for half of all cancers caused
by air pollutants (Patz). Half of all cancers by air pollutants is a serious large quantity when
talking about the exact same pollutants that are emitted by cars and trucks. If these vehicles were
replaced with equally as efficient alternatives, like hydrogen fuel cell cars, there would be a great
reduction in the number of toxin related cancers in the future. Hydrogen fuel cells would prove a
great benefactor in our health as United States Citizens and overall health of the air. By funding
these fuel cells and making the available to consumers, that theory becomes more a reality.
Another major plus of hydrogen fuel cell funding in the United States is the stimulation
of the economy. Independent analyses show global markets could mature over the next 10-20
years, producing revenues of $14 to $31 billion dollars from stationary power, $11 billion per
year from portable power, and $18 to $97 billion per year from transportation applications
(Explore Careers). Revenue from these production would easily pay off any money allotted to
fund the fuel cell research, and grow the United States economy immensely. People spending
more and more in the fuel cell industry would call for more jobs and be a very financially wise
decision for America. Not only to be used in vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells have many other
applications sas well. Companies such as FedEx, Sysco, Walmart, and Coca Cola are using fuel
cells to power material handling equipment like forklifts, and major telecommunications
companies such as Sprint and AT and T are using them as emergency backup power for cell
towers all across the country (Top 11 Things). These major companies would drop billions on
this fuel cell technology, causing a spring to the American economy. Funding for these cells

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would repay in more than 100 times the original amount allotted to them. Bringing only
beneficial news to the economy, theres no doubt that hydrogen fuel cell technology should be
funded. Finally, Fuel Cell Vehicles could reduce our dependence on foreign oil since hydrogen
can be derived from domestic sources (Benefits and Challenges). The U.S. economy has
always been dependent and closely followed the foreign oil prices. When the prices went up, our
economy went down, and vice versa. Replacing foreign oil with fuel cells would unchain us from
any dependence on foreign goods, and our economy could grow and prosper under no influence
of foreign affairs. All in all, the U.S. economy would grow and prosper from the introduction of
hydrogen fuel cells and would greatly benefit and monetary gain for the Government.
Probably the most important factor to why we should directly fund the research and
production of hydrogen fuel cells is due to the immensely significant impact they would have on
our environment. Burning one gallon of gas creates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, and the
average car emits about six tons of carbon dioxide a year (Stein). Carbon dioxide is a potent
greenhouse gas that is a root cause of Global Warming. Normal fuel- guzzlers contribute to the
very cause of our planets destruction, but a more likeable reality would be that hydrogen fuel
cells would rule over the burning of fossil fuels. Fuel Cells do not emit any greenhouse gasses
and will stop the harmful emission of CO2. Contributing to that, human activities like burning of
fossil fuels, deforestation, industrialization, and pollution are considered as few of the factors of
global warming (Rinkesh). Global warming is a very dangerous scenario that is going on today
considering the rising average global temperature. Many negative effects will come from the
releasing of the gasses since they pollute the environment and cause Global warming. Funding
fuels cells stops the release of these dangerous gasses that contribute to the demise of this earth.

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The majority would agree with me that global warming needs to stop, and we need to
take better care of our environment, however many people also disagree that directly funding
Hydrogen fuel cells would help or economy or health. To be competitive in the marketplace, the
cost of hydrogen fuel cells will have to decrease substantially without compromising vehicle
performance (Hydrogen Benefits). Although this is a valid argument at the moment, passing
this bill will directly decrease the strain on the hydrogen fuel cell businesses and provide more
opportunity for cheaper products. Also, many people have concerns on the performance of these
new environmentally friendly vehicles, because they don't seem as powerful. However, these
vehicles would be able to travel 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen, and refuel in three to five
minutes. Fuel cell vehicles combine the emissions-free driving of an electric vehicle with the
range and convenience of a traditional internal combustion engine (Newman). Although a valid
point, and an understandable cause to be hesitant with the unknown, it is still proven that
Hydrogen fuel cells are the way to go with new and green technology.
All in all, Hydrogen fuel cells can only do good. Funding them would be efficient, green,
cost- effective, and good for the American People. Only a few effective sources of energy can be
green and cost friendly, and we have to take every chance when we come out with the
technology to harness the power of that energy source. It is imperative that we take this
opportunity in particular, because there would be significant health benefits to it in the near
future. The air would be fresher, cleaner, and safer. Adding to that, the U.S. economy would
grow tremendously from the added well-paying manufacturing jobs and very high revenue of the
fuel cells sold. Finally, hydrogen fuel cells would tremendously put a brake on global warming
and help put an end to the toxification on our world. The future of all aspects of the next

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generation depend on the decisions we make now, and a change to hydrogen fuel cell technology
would greatly improve the reality of our future.

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Works Cited
Internet Sources
"Benefits and Challenges." Fueleconomy.gov. U.S. Departments of Energy, n.d.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fcv_benefits.shtml. 18 Sept. 2016.
"Explore Careers in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells." Department of Energy. U.S. Departments of
Energy, n.d. http://energy.gov/eere/education/explore-careers-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells. 07
Sept. 2016.
"Hydrogen Benefits and Considerations." Alternative Fuels Data Center. US Department of
Energy, n.d. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/hydrogen_benefits.html. 18 Sept. 2016.
Newman, Rick. "Hydrogen/Fuel Cells." US News and World Report. January 11, 2008,
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2008/01/11/hydrogenfuel-cells
. 10 Oct. 2016.
Rinkesh. "Is Global Warming Real?" ConserveEnergyFuture. Conserve Energy Future, 12 Nov.
2015, http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/is-global-warming-real.php. 08 Sept.
2016.
Smith, Meghan E. "What Percentage of Air Pollution Is Due to Cars?"HowStuffWorks.
InfoSpace Holdings LLC, 07 Dec. 2010,
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/percentage-of-air-pollution-due-to-cars.htm. 07 Sept.
2016.
Stein, Adam. "Global Warming And Your Car." Car Talk. Tappet Brothers, LLC, 22 May 2012,
http://www.cartalk.com/content/global-warming-and-your-car. 07 Sept. 2016.

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"Top 11 Things You Didn't Know About Fuel Cells." Energy.gov. US Department of Energy, 17
May 2013, http://energy.gov/articles/top-11-things-you-didn-t-know-about-fuel-cells. 18
Sept. 2016.
Book Sources
Patz, J. A.; McGeehin, M. A.; Bernard, S. M.; Ebi, K. L.; Epstein, P. R.; Grambsch, A.; Gubler,
D. J.; and Reiter, P. (2000). "The Potential Health Impacts of Climate Variability and
Change for the United States: Executive Summary of the Report of the Health Sector of
the United States National Assessment." Environmental Health Perspectives
108:367376.