This Ad Hoc Committee is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for cooperation in fuel cell and hydrogen research, development, and demonstration. The MOU was signed by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in May 2005 (See PDF Memorandum).

Specifically, the committee will focus on collaboration related to advancing hydrogen production from biomass, fuel cell technologies for rural and agricultural applications, and information dissemination to rural communities and agricultural producers on potential application of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Current committee member agencies include the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and National Science Foundation.