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Is a hydrogen fuel tank on horizon?
(by Karen F. Mrnarevic - April 15, 2008)
Representatives from BMW were present at the Planning Board meeting on April 14 to present two applications for the board’s consideration. The first was a site plan to revise a curb cut of a south entrance to the property on Chestnut Ridge Road to allow for convenient and safe entrance of a specialized car-carrying truck that cannot navigate the entrance under the current configuration without driving over the curb.
The second application brought forth by BMW was for conditional use approval for a second above-ground fuel tank to be installed at the site. Unlike the existing fuel tank on the BMW property, however, this tank would not be filled with diesel, but rather liquid hydrogen. The plan calls for a 4,500-gallon capacity liquid hydrogen tank and fueling station, measuring 20 feet long by 8 feet wide by 14.5 feet height. BMW representatives explained that the tank is required in order to proceed with a project to develop a hydrogen-fueled car. The car, called the BMW Hydrogen 7, is not available for sale currently, but is being tested as a prototype on the West Coast.
The board concluded the meeting before hearing the full testimony of the applicants, saying that it would be best to consult with an independent engineering firm to determine the viability and safety of the project. According to board Chairman George Fry, the members of the board do not have the “skills set,” to judge the appropriateness of the testimony of BMW’s expert on the safety of the hydrogen tank. “We made a decision that we are going to get recommendations from engineering firms and retain them to advise us,” he said in a phone interview.
“Once we have a chance to retain the firm, they [BMW] will come back before the planning board and we will hear the rest of their application,” said Fry. He believes that the board will be prepared to hear testimony from BMW’s expert on Hydrogen fuel and proceed with making a decision on the application some time in May.
Karen F. Mrnarevic's e-mail address is Mrnarevic@northjersey.com.
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