In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to reduce America's growing dependence on foreign oil. If successful, the initiative could also reduce environmental pollutants and lessen the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. There has been a great deal of activity, not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. Consortia composed of policymakers, safety regulators and inspectors, engineers, scientists, universities, and private industry are focusing on long-term research to understand the implications of a hydrogen economy; and to develop technologies to produce, store, deliver, and use hydrogen safely and cost-effectively.