Effects of a Transition to a Hydrogen Economy on Employment in the United States

Technical Report · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/945211· OSTI ID:945211

Tolley, George S ^[1]; Smith, Barton A; Carlson, Eric; Unnasch, Stefan; Lawrence, Michael; Chmelynski, Harry

---

1. RCF Economic and Financial Consulting, Inc.

The U.S. Department of Energy report, Effects of a Transition to a Hydrogen Economy on Employment in the United States Report to Congress, estimates the effects on employment of a U.S. economy transformation to hydrogen between 2020 and 2050. The report includes study results on employment impacts from hydrogen market expansion in the transportation, stationary, and portable power sectors and highlights possible skill and education needs. This study is in response to Section 1820 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58) (EPACT). Section 1820, “Overall Employment in a Hydrogen Economy,” requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a study of the effects of a transition to a hydrogen economy on several employment [types] in the United States. As required by Section 1820, the present report considers: • Replacement effects of new goods and services • International competition • Workforce training requirements • Multiple possible fuel cycles, including usage of raw materials • Rates of market penetration of technologies • Regional variations based on geography • Specific recommendations of the study Both the Administration’s National Energy Policy and the Department’s Strategic Plan call for reducing U.S. reliance on imported oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The National Energy Policy also acknowledges the need to increase energy supplies and use more energy-efficient technologies and practices. President Bush proposed in his January 2003 State of the Union Address to advance research on hydrogen so that it has the potential to play a major role in America’s future energy system. Consistent with these aims, EPACT 2005 authorizes a research, development, and demonstration program for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Projected results for the national employment impacts, projections of the job creation and job replacement underlying the total employment changes, training implications, regional employment impacts and the employment impacts of a hydrogen transformation on international competitiveness are investigated and reported.

• Research Organization: RCF Economic and Financial Consulting, Inc.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program (EE-2H)
• DOE Contract Number: FG36-06GO16064
• OSTI ID: 945211
• Report Number(s): DOE/GO/16064-F
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
EDUCATION
EMPLOYMENT
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SUPPLIES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUEL CELLS
FUEL CYCLE
GEOGRAPHY
GOODS AND SERVICES
GREENHOUSE GASES
HYDROGEN
Hydrogen
Employment
EPACT 2005
HFI
Hydrogen Economy
Transportation
Stationary Power
Portable Power
Fuel Cells
MARKET
RAW MATERIALS
TRANSFORMATIONS