Fuel cells support critical functions of RWIS sites

ITD’s budget request, presented to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee this week, includes the purchase of a new hydrogen fuel cell. That prompted a question from Rep. George Eskridge (R-Dover) about how the department uses fuel cells.

It is common for such questions to emerge from formal presentations to legislature. Those that can’t be answered directly are referred to ITD staff for further explanation and a follow-up contact with legislators.

The response allowed ITD to highlight an innovation that helps keep motorists safe on Idaho highways and is critical to winter maintenance decisions.

ITD installed the first hydrogen fuel cell as an auxiliary power source for a Road Weather Information System (RWIS) site last year. The fuel cell activates automatically when power from solar batteries is insufficient.

The RWIS site at Fourth of July Pass on Interstate 90 does not receive enough sunlight on winter days to provide uninterrupted power, so the fuel cell was installed as a stable backup.

ITD maintains 84 RWIS sites throughout the state and plans to add new ones this year. Most do not require use of a backup fuel cell. One of the exceptions is the RWIS station at Willow Creek Summit on U.S. 93, about 22 miles south of Challis. The $25,000 budget item Rep. Eskridge asked about would add a fuel cell to that location – only the second in Idaho, explains ITD Mobility Manager Bob Koeberlein.

Fuel cells generally have a life expectancy of about 10 years, depending on the amount of demand for the auxiliary power they provide, Koeberlein said.

ITD Director Brian Ness presented the department’s FY14 budget to JFAC Monday in Boise.

Published 2-15-13