New Mexico Looks to Build Hydrogen-based Economy

As states and communities consider how to build a tech-based economy, the prospects of centering efforts around hydrogen fuel cell technology has become an increasingly appealing option. Fuel cells may have huge implications for the future, and the technology already is the focus of some states' multi-billion economic development strategies. California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York and Ohio offer a few examples (see May 17, 2002 issue of the Digest). In all, approximately 20 states are believed to be in various stages of hydrogen development.

Among those states is New Mexico. According to Albuquerque Journal reports, Governor Bill Richardson is looking to place New Mexico at the fore of a hydrogen-based economy. Leading the charge is HyTeP, or Hydrogen Technology Partnership, an informal network of New Mexico people and organizations working together to pursue development of a hydrogen-based economy in New Mexico. A Los Alamos National Laboratory executive is on loan to the New Mexico Economic Development Department to coordinate HyTeP.

A workshop held last week in Santa Fe was attended by more than 100 industry and government leaders, who helped brainstorm on how to achieve the goal of fostering New Mexico's hydrogen industry. The HyTeP team is expected to develop a business plan for growing the fuel cell industry in the state, according to a report in the New Mexico Business Weekly.

More information on HyTeP is available at www.hytep.org.