SPACE WIRE
Bush to call for hydrogen car, tax-free broadband in new initiative
WASHINGTON (AFP) Apr 26, 2004
US President George W. Bush will call Monday for developing a hydrogen car and giving ordinary Americans tax-free access to broadband Internet services as part of a new initiative designed to add muscle to an economic recovery threatened by rising gasoline prices.

"By giving our workers the best technology and the best training, we will make sure that the American economy remains the most flexible, advanced, and productive in the world," the White House said in an executive summary of the proposals.

Bush was to travel Monday to the northern city Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he will present his ideas to an annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges.

The trip coincides with a new uptick in retail gasoline prices, which crept up another three cents a gallon over the past two weeks to reach an average of nearly 1.83 dollars a gallon, according to industry analysts.

Prices at the pump went up a total of 35 cents a gallon since before Christmas, threatening to put a crimp on the fledgling economic recovery that could hold the key to Bush's re-election on November 2.

The initiative calls for 350 million dollars in funding for new hydrogen research projects aimed at developing cleaner and more economical sources of energy, according to the White House.

The president will urge scientists, automakers and energy companies to work together on developing a vehicle powered by affordable hydrogen fuel cells and creating a hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

Progress in this area has been held back by the fact that existing fuel cells are 10 times more expensive than internal combustion engines, experts said.

Bush will also call for making broadband Internet technology accessible to most Americans by 2007 -- and will urge Congress to pass legislation making access to broadband permanently tax-free.

"Broadband technology will enhance our nation's economic competitiveness and will help improve education and health care for all Americans," the White House summary said.

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