The world's first hydrogen-powered electric train is now operational in Germany, thanks to a French Company, Alstom. The trains have zero harmful emissions. The downside, however, is that fossil fuels are being used to produce the hydrogen.
Yes, the U.S. should be doing some catch-up work. Hydrogen-powered trains would be a way to reduce our carbon footprint. If we have the technology, internally, to produce hydrogen trains in, say, two years, we should do so. If not, we should go running to that French company, Alstom, asking them to produce trains for us.
But, we should go forward with two cautions:
1.) Keep at a minimum the use of fossil fuels in producing the hydrogen. Expand the number of hydro-electric powerplants, so fossil fuels are not used as much.
2.) Watch against adding to the national debt. Germany only afforded the new trains thanks to federal funding. Can we do better? Perhaps the trick would for the federal government to lend the developer money, but require it be paid back within ten years.
(Index -- Climate change)
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