Robert Rose, the winner of the 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar Award, has called for the creation of a new 15-year hydrogen and fuel cell partnership that would invest some $60 billion worth of US public funds in the burgeoning clean fuel market.

Speaking at the 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar in San Antonio, Mr Rose pointed out that the annual programme would cost around $4 billion which "is less than we pay for imported oil in two weeks".

Mr Rose said the money would be used to make purchases, to introduce purchase subsidies and incentives, and to accelerate research and development within the fuel cell/hydrogen sector.

Setting out ambitious targets for the initiative, Mr Rose said the partnership should set market penetration targets of 8 million fuel cell vehicles and 20 gigawatts of fuel cell electric generating capacity by 2020 - targets which he pointed out were only half as ambitious as those established for fuel cell commercialisation in Japan.

In order to finance the scheme, Mr Rose suggested that a small levy could be placed on current, less eco-friendly energy carriers, or via a vehicle registration fee - what Mr Rose described as a "Freedom Fee".

Founder and executive director of the US Fuel Cell Council, Mr Rose was awarded the Seminar Award in recognition of his individual support for the research, development and demonstration of fuel cell technology.