The US Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association in September  launched an initiative to mark October 8 (10 – 08) as the International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day . The date was chosen in recognition of the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008) with the goal to highlight the rapidly growing role of these technologies in building a sustainable energy future, says Morry B. Markowitz, President of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (USA).  This day hydrogen and fuel cell industry, its supporters, friends, and stakeholders will try to bring industry together to show support and bring attention to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies – the successes, benefits, and potential for even more.

Everyone is invited to participate this day via social media posts using hashtags #HydrogenNow #FuelCellNow. Organizations can show their support via news articles, blog posts or press releases.

The resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The text of the Senate resolution:

RESOLUTION 217 Designating October 8, 2015, as ‘‘National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day’’.

• Whereas hydrogen, which has an atomic mass of 1.008, is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe;
• Whereas the United States is a world leader in the development and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies;
• Whereas hydrogen fuel cells played an instrumental role in the United States space program, helping the United States achieve the mission of landing a man on the moon;
• Whereas private industry, Federal and State governments, national laboratories, and universities continue to improve fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to address our most pressing energy, environmental, and economic issues;
• Whereas fuel cells utilizing hydrogen and hydrogen-rich fuels to generate electricity are clean, efficient, resilient technologies being sold for stationary and backup power, zero-emission light duty motor vehicles and buses, industrial vehicles, and portable power;
• Whereas stationary fuel cells are being placed in service for continuous and backup power to provide business and energy consumers with reliable power in the event of grid outages;
• Whereas stationary fuel cells can help reduce water use compared to traditional power generation technologies;
• Whereas fuel cell electric light duty motor vehicles and buses that utilize hydrogen can completely replicate the experience of internal combustion vehicles including comparable range and refueling times;
• Whereas hydrogen fuel cell industrial vehicles are being deployed at logistical hubs and warehouses across the country and are also being exported to facilities in Europe and Asia;
• Whereas hydrogen is a non-toxic gas that can be derived from a variety of domestically available traditional and renewable resources, including solar, wind, biogas and the abundant supply of natural gas in the United States;
• Whereas hydrogen and fuel cells can store energy to help enhance the grid and maximize opportunities to deploy renewable energy;
• Whereas the United States currently produces and uses more than 11,000,000 metric tons of hydrogen per year; and
• Whereas engineers and safety code and standard professionals have developed consensus-based protocols for safe delivery, handling, and use of hydrogen: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate designates October 8, 2015, as “National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day”.