Washington, D.C. – Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici today predicts that the Next Generation Nuclear Plant, when built, could revolutionize global hydrogen production, making fertilizers and fuels from hydrogen more affordable and reducing greenhouse gases. The committee today held a hearing to receive testimony on the status of the Next Generation Nuclear Plant authorized in EPAct05 for construction at the Idaho National Laboratory.
 
Chairman Domenici’s statement:

“I think one of the most foward-looking provisions in the energy bill is the authorization for the construction of NGNP. This plant, when it’s built, could revolutionize the production of hydrogen around the world. I have always been enthusiastic about energy production that doesn’t produce carbon emissions. It has always troubled me that we can only commercially produce hydrogen – the most abundant element in the universe – from fossil fuels. I look forward to the day when we are producing vast volumes of hydrogen for use in transportation and agriculture without any impact on the environment. I think the NGNP will get us there.”

Senator Larry Craig:

“The Next Generation Nuclear Plant represents an important piece of our future energy mix, as both a generator of electricity and hydrogen.  It is safe, efficient, and viable.  I look forward to cutting the ribbon on the first plant."

Hydrogen is also critical to the worldwide production of fertilizers and the production of transportation fuel from heavy oil, a practice that is growing in the wake of skyrocketing oil prices. Global demand for hydrogen is expected double within 10 years. However, commercial hydrogen is only produced from natural gas, coal and oil – fuels that emit greenhouse gases. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 addressed this problem by authorizing the construction of the NGNP, the first nuclear plant to produce both electricity and hydrogen.