February 3rd, 2010
Hydrogen Convergence of Obama’s Plans for NASA
We at the ebTDesign Forum enthusiastically support President Barack Obama’s plans for NASA as long at they include funding for hydrogen convergence at airports. If the funding will only support the development of “spaceports” then it will be just another step toward a very slippery slope that disenfranchises small town Americans. We see airport improvement as an additional challenge NASA must address in order to fully realize commercial space flight.
National policy is most effective when it takes into account regional differences. Any plan that only benefits coastal states ignores the economic reality of lack luster job growth which confronts the nation as a whole. Unless, we can hold the center of the country and not abandon it to outside interests, then the working and middle class will never recover.
As we discussed in yesterday’s blog segment, airports enable lifestyle choices that greatly benefit hometown communities. They allow small town sea turtles to return to the communities they grew up in without giving up the face time required for establishing and growing business relationships. These are the same relationships that can be invaluable to the overall health and welfare of rural regions.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden spoke of President Obama’s desire to enhance the focus on commercial partnerships. We at the ebTDesign Forum would also like to remind Administrator Bolden of NASA’s other middle name which is Aeronautics. Any NASA plan that does not include at least some programs like hydrogen convergence which benefit aviation and airport systems does not live up to the historic spirit of this storied organization.
Zachary Alexander
Concepts: airports, hydrogen, NASA, Obama, sea turtlesFebruary 2nd, 2010
Hydrogen Convergence delivers twice the Value for Airports
As readers of the ebTDesign Forum and loyal twitter followers know, hydrogen convergence will provide airport management and airlines with a hedge against radical changes in energy prices. Hydrogen Convergence will also provide the air traveling public and surrounding community with reduced noise pollution.
Many in the cleantech sector can cite the benefits of hydrogen convergence as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of a given facility. But very few are as quick to recognize the benefits of noise reduction when building their case for early investment. This is understandable because most non-readers can only visualize fuel cell usage in airplanes at airports.
Noise restrictions limit the development of prime commercial real estate. Adjacent properties are made unviable because of sound proofing requirements. These limitations cost local communities millions and even tens of millions in potential tax revenues and multiplies airport expansion costs by increasing land use requirements.
Further, busy executives would cherish the opportunity of living closer to airports. This would reduce their commutes and positively enhance their lifestyle choices. Put simply, any significant noise reduction would immediately increase the property value of surrounding neighborhoods and benefit all involved.
Zachary Alexander
Concepts: airports, fuel cell, hydrogen, noise reductionFebruary 1st, 2010
Exploring Hydrogen Convergence Onramps at Airports
The ebTDesign Forum is proud to announce a new Hydrogen Convergence Airports initiative. As loyal readers and twitter followers, you know that aviation and airport operations were suggested as one of the top three hydrogen convergence onramps. Onramps are points of market entry that provide the best opportunity for cleantech mass market success.
We have not given up on hydrogen cars. But we have become frustrated with the direction that the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle market has taken. Automakers have decided to combine their hybrid, electric vehicle (EV), and hydrogen car marketing strategies. This has resulted in increased market confusion and the glossing over of hydrogen car benefits.
Selling hydrogen cars as hybrids ignores the competitive advantages that hydrogen convergence brings to the marketplace. We at the ebTDesign Forum believe that this market confusion caused by the automakers will delay adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and put the United States Economy at risk. It is the inevitable, sometimes radical, increases in energy prices that will keep job growth slow and lead to the next economic decline.
Airports and the aviation system provide certain low-hanging fruit that could potentially overcome the hydrogen car delay. As you know, there is transportation in around airports. This includes buses, taxies, and limos. There are the snowplows and baggage movers. The baggage movers are of particular interest because there may be an opportunity to reuse the hydrogen fuel cell terminal tractor that is being developed by Capacity of Texas and Vision Industries or the Navy’s “yard dog” platform.
Zachary Alexander
Concepts: airports, aviation, cars, fuel cell, hydrogen