BILL REQ. #:  H-3251.1 

Prefiled 12/21/2005. Read first time .   Referred to .

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE HONORABLE SAMUEL W. BODMAN, SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Hydrogen is a valuable energy technology that has a variety of applications and the potential to reduce dependence on petroleum imports and improve air quality; and
     WHEREAS, The use of nuclear power plants to produce hydrogen is an efficient and environmentally friendly way to produce large quantities of hydrogen; and
     WHEREAS, The use of existing nuclear power plants is a cost-effective way to produce hydrogen; and
     WHEREAS, Under the energy policy act of 2005, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy is required to determine whether the use of existing nuclear power plants is a cost-effective means of producing hydrogen; and
     WHEREAS, Under the energy policy act of 2005, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy is required to provide for the establishment of two projects in geographic areas that are regionally and climatically diverse to demonstrate the commercial production of hydrogen at existing nuclear power plants; and
     WHEREAS, A commercially operated nuclear power plant, the Columbia generating station, is located within the state of Washington on the United States Department of Energy's Hanford site; and
     WHEREAS, The Columbia generating station is the only commercially operated nuclear power plant in the Northwest;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy determine that the use of existing nuclear power plants is a cost-effective means of producing hydrogen; and
     Your Memorialists further respectfully pray that the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy provide for the establishment of a project at the Columbia generating station to demonstrate the commercial production of hydrogen at an existing nuclear power plant.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Honorable Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of the United States Department of Energy, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.