By ALEX COSTELLO
And soon, they will have Long Island's first hydrogen fueling station, as well.
With help from EmPower, an Island Park alternative energy company, the town is planning to start construction on a next-generation fueling station at the Lido Beach preserve - in what is becoming the town's "Energy Park." The station will have four pumps: one each for hydrogen and natural gas, a compressed natural gas/hydrogen blend known as hythane (which can help natural gas vehicles transition to hydrogen), and one for a purer form of hydrogen. "Alternative fuels are a very, very big priority for me," said Kate Murray, Town of Hempstead supervisor. "...a hydrogen fueling station is yet another option that is out there in the pantheon of alternative fuels." The station, which will cost about $2.1 million, is being funded through four different sources: the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has given the town a $900,000 grant, LIPA is committing $305,000, National Grid is putting up $1.15 million, and the town is pitching in about $250,000. For its contribution, National Grid will gain ownership of the station for three years. After that, control of the station will be turned over to the town.
For now, the station will only be used to service the town's fleet of vehicles. Hydrogen and many other alternative-fuel vehicles are still not very commercially viable, and therefore not available to the general public. However, Murray has not ruled out the possibility of the public using the station in the future. "There's also on the table the idea that if regular citizens get into the alternative energy trend," she said, "and I certainly hope more and more people do, if they do end up having hydrogen-fueled vehicles...that we open it up to the general public as well."
One of the main problems with implementing alternative fuels like hydrogen in cars is that the infrastructure, such as gas stations, to support those vehicles just doesn't exist yet. There are hydrogen stations in the country, but there are not nearly enough of them. "From our perspective, we have to focus on all types of alternative fuels, and hydrogen is one of them," said David Schieren, CEO of EmPower. "And right now, the most near-term alternative fuels that we should promote are hybrids, and now there's going to be a new group called plug-in hybrids."
Plug-in hybrids, according to Schieren, are cars that get plugged in at the owner's home to charge their batteries, and then run completely on electrical energy for about 30 to 40 miles. After that, they can switch to gasoline to generate power.
"These vehicles, once they've depleted that all-electric charge, they will operate similar to hybrids, so they will still be more efficient than a regular vehicle," Schieren said.
While it might seem pointless to build a hydrogen station when hydrogen cars are barely in use, it's not. "We must begin this process, and we're starting to, if we're ever to achieve that goal [of making hydrogen use widespread]," said Schieren. "We need to start small, take one step at a time, and start one station at a time." Not only is hydrogen easy to come by (it is the most common element in the universe, and can be made from breaking down water), but cars that use hydrogen instead of petroleum products have zero harmful emissions. The only emission from hydrogen use is water vapor.
Other alternative fuels, like compressed natural gas, have low emissions and are more economically feasible than petroleum products. "Keep in mind that natural gas is methane, and methane can come from waste water treatment plants, landfills, anaerobic digestion, from manure," said Ron Gulmi, the chairman of the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition. "So there are renewable forms."
And while natural gas can also come from the ground as a fossil fuel, like petroleum, it does not need to be refined like petroleum does, and is therefore not subject to refinery costs.
The station being built in Lido Beach may very well be the first of its kind on Long Island. Many hope, however, that it will not be the last.
"I hope this truly does kick off a trend amongst other municipalities, or private concerns," said Murray. "The more, the merrier, quite frankly. And the more, the
greener."
Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
