First Northern California Retail Hydrogen Refueling

WEST SACRAMENTO - The first hydrogen refueling station in Northern California was dedicated in West Sacramento today. It marks the 10th retail hydrogen refueling station in the State and moves California closer to its goal of having 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025.

The station is cofunded by the California Energy Commission under its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) and was installed at a fuel station that has been operating for more than 60 years by Ramos Oil, one of the largest Hispanic-owned companies in the United States.

Among the officials who attended the ribbon-cutting were California Energy Commissioner Janea A. Scott; Cliff Caldwell, vice-president of Linde North America Inc., maker of the station's hydrogen storage tanks and compressor; Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento; Mark Johannessen, mayor pro tem of West Sacramento; and Fred Joseck, of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy.

"California is committed to achieving its climate and clean air goals by getting more zero emission vehicles on the road and helping build an infrastructure that supports them," Scott said. "The West Sacramento station, which is one of 51 funded stations and California's 10th operating hydrogen fuel station, gets us closer to our longer goal of constructing 100 stations in convenient locations across the State."

The Energy Commission's ARFVTP has invested more than $500 million to bolster statewide infrastructure and create a viable market for ZEVs, while promoting alternative fuels.

"The prospect of hydrogen's zero emissions technology fits perfectly into our multi-fuel platform concept, and I believe will prove that hydrogen has a place in the transportation fuel mix," said Kent Ramos, owner of Ramos Oil.

Phil Serna, member of the California Air Resources Board and Sacramento County Supervisor, said the station will help attract more alternative-fuel cars to California.

"This brand new facility, which we have eagerly awaited, adds to the growing network of hydrogen stations in the State, helping to strengthen the signal to automakers - keep bringing your advanced, zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicles here to California," Serna said. "The State is strongly committed, with its policies and its funding, to a future where zero-emission vehicles are the norm, not the exception.

Many of the world's largest automakers are introducing fuel cell vehicles into the market, including Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota, all of which had demonstration vehicles at the ceremony Event participants had the opportunity to test drive the cars.

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About the California Energy Commission: The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. The agency was established by the California Legislature through the Warren-Alquist Act in 1974. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation and preparing for energy emergencies.

For more information, visit: www.energy.ca.gov or www.energy.ca.gov/releases/.

Article Provided By:

Andrew Hom

Air Resources Engineer

Fuels and Transportation Division

Emerging Fuels & Technology Office

916.651.3000   |  Andrew.Hom@energy.ca.gov