American Hydrogen Association

"Prosperity Without Pollution"

Mission of the AHA

      Develop and prove solar hydrogen technologies that will eliminate economic, environmental and energy hardships caused by burning one million years accumulation of fossil fuels every year and

      Educate scientists, entrepreneurs and experimenters, parents and educators, CEO's, legislators, utilities, the media and farmers how to use solar hydrogen to create sustainable prosperity without pollution.

Back to top

AHA in a Nutshell

    Most of us have figured out that petroleum is not going to last forever and that burning it is getting expensive and the pollution damages our health and environment. Some solutions offered are "Drill, Baby, Drill"�, nuclear reactors, fracking, 'clean' coal, and electric cars, which recharge by burning fossil fuels. Solar, wind and ocean wave or tidal power are clean and renewable, but are intermittent and are nowhere near meeting even today's demand, let alone the needs of 9 billion people in 2050.

    The AHA contends that hydrogen is a common sense answer to many of our problems. Hydrogen can be made cheaply from sunshine and water, it safely stores energy and transports it in pipelines, burning it only produces more water and fuel cells can produce electricity for your home, factory or a hospital in spite of blizzards and hurricanes.

    So why isn't every one talking about hydrogen? Whenever hydrogen is mentioned, the Hindenburg comes to mind, although it's unlikely hydrogen had anything to do with the fire or any fatalities. We can hardly expect oil companies and utilities to promote a competing fuel. The AHA educates citizens through this website, a newsletter, chapter meetings, event exhibits, library book donations, classes, and videos. We already have much of the technology we need. We need to start putting millions of people to work building the Hydrogen Age. Come along with us for the ride. It's going to be great.

Back to top

AHA History

1966 - The Hydrogen Association began holding regular meetings in Phoenix, Arizona.

1989 - The American Hydrogen Association was formally organized on December 17th at the Scottsdale Camelback Inn. Roy McAlister took office as President.

1990 - Publication of the Hydrogen Today newsletter began.

1992 - The AHA became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in July.

1992 - During a Solar Energy Expo and Rally in Willets, California, the '79 AHA hydrogen Dodge stalled on the Golden Gate Bridge because of an incompletely opened fuel tank valve, creating a Friday afternoon traffic jam.

1994 - the AHA clean-air.org website went online and the first weekend vehicle hydrogen conversion classes were taught.

1996 - Roy McAlister published "The Philosopher Mechanic: Notes for Converting Your Car to a Renewable Energy - Minus Emissions Vehicle (REV-ME)"�.

1999 - The AHA sponsored the world's first hydrogen go-kart race.

2000 to 2005 - The AHA did research and taught renewable energy classes to students from all over the world at the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona. Unfortunately, we lost use of that excellent facility when the state cut the education budget.

2003 - Roy McAlister published "Solar Hydrogen Civilization"� and revised it in 2005.

Today - AHA members and friends attend monthly meetings, renewable energy fairs, world conferences and trade shows.

Back to top

Board of Directors

Roy McAlister, President

      Roy grew up on a farm in Kansas, where he learned how everything worked.   He built a hydrogen car when he was 17.   He has a Masters degree in engineering from the University of Kansas.   He was an engineering professor at Arizona State University and has over 90 patents and applications.   Roy founded the AHA in 1989 and today he lectures all over the world.

Kevin Kohnen, Vice President

      Kevin has 30 years of experience in international telecommunications marketing.   In 2013, he founded a renewable hydrogen energy company.

Ben Ferguson

      Ben grew up on Greer's Ferry Lake, Arkansas, a half mile from the nearest paved road.   His family gardened and fished for food.   Growing up in the sparsely populated woods, he developed an appreciation for the Earth in its natural state.   He created "Captain Hydrogen" in 1997 to champion the cause of sustainable hydrogen.   He has a B.S. in Business & Information Systems and an A.A.S. in CAD.   He's been active in the AHA since 1995 and was elected to the Board a year after joining at age 26.

Douglas Hawley, Secretary/Treasurer

      Douglas was raised in Oswegatchie, New York where he spent a lot of time playing hockey. He has a B.A. in Anthropology and was a U.S. Navy Electronics Technician and machine tool mechanic.   He holds a black belt in Aikido.  Doug has been a member of the AHA since 1998 and is the editor of Hydrogen Today.  He is currently a master bicycle mechanic in Mesa, Arizona.

Claude Culbertson

      Claude was raised in San Bernardino, California where he spent most of his high school years on cars, airplanes, and appreciating young women from a distance.   He worked at the San Bernardino Airport, now lost to history, where he soloed in an airplane at age 16.   Claude was a US Army Reserve mechanic for 6 years and worked at garages, car dealerships, a construction company making helical steel piers, a resort hotel and at a solar start up company as an auto mechanic, welder and fleet maintenance manager.   He owned and operated Shaw's Welding in Mesa, AZ for 9 years.   He kept a '54 Chevy pick up truck running for over 40 years and repairs his 50+ year-old Church in north Phoenix whenever needed. He has been a Big Brother mentor to six young men- Walter, John, Levi, Chris, Edgar, and Jose.   Claude has been an AHA member since 1991.   He's an aviation enthusiast who has been to the EAA Oshkosh twice and spends time at all airshows, fly-ins, and aviation museums that cross his path.   He now works on projects in his home garage.

Jon Findley

      Jon has lived in the Midwest, the East Coast and Northern Europe before coming to Arizona. He holds degrees in biology, education and environmental science. He taught high school and college science and was an information technology writer and editor. For 20 years, he has worked with Arizona nonprofits on environmental and energy issues. As a member of the Sierra Club Executive Committee and as the current Chairman of the Energy Committee for Arizona, Jon has works on sprawl, energy and mining issues. He has worked with the AHA for years to promote hydrogen as a renewable and sustainable form of energy transfer and storage. He is also active with the American Association of Environmental Professionals and the Arizona Environmental Education Association.

John Gotthold

      John has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.   He spent 20 years designing computer peripherals in Silicon Valley.   John met Roy McAlister in Independence, Missouri at Roger Billings Hydrogen '91.   He returned to California and founded the AHA Silicon Valley Chapter.   He has been President and Infomeister since 1993.   In 1994, after returning from fuel cell training at the Los Alamos National Lab in N.M., John, with the assistance of Paul Warsitz, designed and sold 1,000's of solar hydrogen fuel cell education kits from his garage.   They co-founded Warsitz Eneterprises in 1997 and John designed a 25 Watt fuel cell, a 1kW emergency power supply, a 10kW automoyive range extender and high pressure electrolyzers.   John co-founded Hysolgenics in 2009 to manufacture 5kW and 20kW solar electrolyzers as the core of personal portable hydrogen stations.   He is CTO and VP-Engineering.   Their first personal hydrogen station began operating in February of 2014.   Hysolgenics is also prototyping fuel cell Power Packs, motor bikes and fuel cell outboard fishing motors.   Hysolgenics is preparing to supply hydrogen in 2015 when major automakers introduce fuel cell cars.

Russell Philips

      Russell was born and raised in San Jose, California. He was an Eagle Scout, woodworker and cabinetmaker, construction worker, glazier, webmaster and programmer.   He is self-taught through hands-on research and building alternative energy and free energy projects.   Cordless drills are his paint brushes.   He is owner of a shutter and blind business in Phoenix, Arizona.   "I believe in sustainable living".

Warren Hightower

      Warren is a retired fire department paramedic.

Back to top

American Hydrogen Association
1503 W. 5th Pl.
Mesa, AZ 85201 USA
(480) 234-5070