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Prepared by the
Institute for the Analysis of Global Security

October 30, 2003
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NDCF report: the hidden cost of imported oil
National Defense Council Foundation: if reflected at the pump, the “hidden costs” of oil would raise the price of gallon of gasoline to over $5.28.

Thirty years later oil is still a big gun
Thirty years ago, on October 17, in an attempt to influence U.S. Middle East policy, the OPEC cartel, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, decided to cut oil supply to the U.S. Can it happen again, and what can we do about it?

Dangerous Dependence
The United States should decrease its use of Middle Eastern oil and develop alternate fuel methods or risk even greater reliance on the Arab world, warns one energy expert.

Minding Its Business
Saudi Arabia, which has demonstrated its willingness to use its vast oil reserves as a foreign policy tool, has not acted to aid U.S. efforts to rebuild Iraq.

Fencing in looters and saboteurs in Iraq
Too many people in and outside of Iraq are hoping to deny Iraq a better future through a campaign of sabotage and plunder of the country's neglected oil facilities. The problem, and possible solutions.

In this hemisphere

Unrest in Bolivia over gas deal
Riots over a proposed $5 billion project to export natural gas to the U.S. forced Bolivia's president to step down.

Background

Prospects on Russia’s stance towards OPEC
In September Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Prince Abdullah made the first visit to Russia by a Saudi head of state in over seven decades. The future of Moscow’s stance towards OPEC is a critical question for the world oil market. Will Russia be willing to cooperate with OPEC and thus further strengthen the power of the cartel to set a price range for oil?

Energy security and liquefied natural gas
Demand for natural gas has increased as have the security vulnerabilities presented by liquefied natural gas terminals and tankers.

On the technology front

Genesis Fueltech reports successful long term test of methanol reformer
Phillip Piffer, president of Genesis Fueltech, reports on testing of the company’s newest methanol to hydrogen fuel processor.

Caterpillar and FuelCell Energy Announce Largest Fuel Cell Power Plant Installation in Illinois
The fuel cell power plant, which can supply electricity to more than 250 average American homes, will be connected to the Peoria area electricity grid.

Plug-in hybrid electric HUMVEE for the U.S. military
International Truck and Engine Corporation has a cooperative agreement with Vision Technologies Systems, Inc, to design and market a repowered solution for the HUMVEE® which includes a hybrid electric drive with plug-in power.

Hydrogen fuel cell powered special operations vehicles for the Army
Quantum Fuel System Technologies Worldwide, Inc., will develop and demonstrate a high performance, hydrogen fuel cell powered light-duty, special operations vehicle. Fuel comprises 70 percent of the supplies transported by the Armed Services to support battlefield operations.


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Back Issues

Caterpillar and FuelCell Energy Announce Largest Fuel Cell Power Plant Installation in Illinois

Caterpillar Inc. and FuelCell Energy, Inc. announced the installation of the largest fuel cell power generation plant in Illinois. The 250 kilowatt Direct FuelCell (DFC (R)) power plant is now operational and was commissioned on October 28 at the Caterpillar Technical Center north of Peoria.

The FuelCell Energy DFC300A power plant, which can supply electricity to more than 250 average American homes, will be connected to the Peoria area electricity grid. This initiative, under the joint development agreement signed by both companies in April 2002, will allow Caterpillar to utilize the power plant as a demonstration unit for customers, Caterpillar dealers and development engineers.

The alliance agreement between Caterpillar and FuelCell Energy involves the distribution and development of ultra-low emission fuel cell power generation products for industrial and commercial use. The agreement calls for the companies to jointly develop power plants in the 250 kW to 3 MW size range, incorporating FuelCell Energy's fuel cell module.

"We are very pleased to showcase fuel cell power generation technology in Illinois," said Sherril K. West, Caterpillar's Chief Technology Officer. "We view these power plants as an important addition to Caterpillar's portfolio of distributed generation products. This installation will demonstrate to prospective customers that fuel cell power plants are ready for commercial applications, and can be purchased through Caterpillar's world class dealer network."

"This installation is part of the continuing commitment of FuelCell Energy and Caterpillar to jointly develop the market for our DFC products," said Jerry D. Leitman, President and CEO of FuelCell Energy, Inc. "This further demonstrates that our DFC distributed generation solution is ready to meet customers' needs today."

In August of this year, Caterpillar and FuelCell Energy announced their first joint sale of a fuel cell power generation plant in the state of California. The plant will be used by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts at the Palmdale Water Reclamation Plant in northwest Los Angeles County.

Since FuelCell Energy's Direct FuelCells® are designed to generate hydrogen internally, they are commercially available today without waiting for development of a hydrogen supply infrastructure.

FuelCell Energy's fuel cell power plants are already operating at hospitals, universities, wastewater treatment plants, hotels and computer data centers.

Also see:
Learn more about the technology

FuelCell Energy power plant installed at NJ Sheraton

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