The Cannon House Office Building on Washington's Capitol Hill has begun hosting the 2004 Congressional Fuel Cell Expo, with a range of industry chiefs and the US energy secretary in attendance.

The event, which is being sponsored by a quartet of Senators and Representatives, is expected to attract up to 35 of the top names in the fuel cell sector to discuss issues facing the development of the technology.

Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton, who recently introduced a $6.5 billion bill that would speed up the process of researching further hydrogen fuel cell use in cars, homes, appliances and other items, is one of the sponsors.

General Motors' Hydrogen 3 Opel Zafira minivan will be on show and will be accessible for attendees to ride-and-drive.

Among those scheduled to make speeches are energy secretary Spencer Abraham, while exhibitors will include Ballard Power Systems, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The event will also benefit the US Fuel Cell Council, which will hold several face-to-face "taskforce" meetings with industry leaders who attend the event.

Alternative energy agencies, such as the Single Cell Testing Task Force and the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Task Force, will also convene at the meeting to discuss their strategy and future development.