The federal government's myopic energy strategy is still picking winners and losers

While President Trump promotes a much-needed agenda of lower taxes and job creation, Congress must do its share by addressing a critical issue regarding tax incentives. In 2015, Congress decided to change course on tax incentives for promising energy technologies by picking winners (primarily solar businesses) while taking away incentives from other industries, including fuel cells powered by refined natural gas and hydrogen. This was a very short-sighted decision, as fuel cell technology could revolutionize the way American power is generated within a few years.

The time has come for Congress to fix the practice of arbitrarily picking winners and losers between energy sectors such as solar at the expense of an even more promising energy future. Yet in December 2015, Congress passed legislation which extended investment tax credits for solar companies until 2024 while letting incentives for other technologies such as fuel cells lapse. This short-sighted policy decision has unfairly punished fuel cells and other energy technologies to the benefit of an industry that has been dominated by China and contributes a negligible amount to our national power grid.

Even with the solar power industry's woes and the very realistic limits of wind power, the United States has a bright energy future. America is far along in the development and use of natural gas fuel cells.

Fuel cells use chemical energy taken from hydrogen or other elements to efficiently produce electricity. This zero emission energy source can run anything from a large power station to a personal laptop. Fuel cells can be used as a source for portable power, fixed power generation or used to power transportation. They are also a much more efficient power source than traditional electric batteries as they recharge much more quickly.

American fuel cell technology is more than a concept or theory. Our fuel cell makers already have customers such as Amazon and Walmart taking orders for thousands of new industrial vehicles, such as forklifts, loaders, etc., powered by natural gas fuel cells. Other major retailers are installing stationary fuel cells as their primary power source capable of powering through grid outages caused by cyber-attacks or storms.