Shell becomes major sponsor of AutoBlogGreen - and vice versa?

[wtmusic]

Today this press release appeared on AutoBlogGreen, one of my favorite eco-transportation blog sites. ABG reprints a press release touting hydrogen from the California Fuel Cell Partnership (oil industry consortium) in full with a lukewarm "challenge" as a quasi-disclaimer:

"California Fuel Cell Partnership calls for 46 retail hydrogen stations, will cost just $180m

Yesterday, the CaFCP released their action plan for implementing the goals in the vision. On top of the two areas named last year, the action plan adds four places that should become "hydrogen communities": Santa Monica, Irvine, Torrance and Newport Beach. All told, CaFCP sees 46 retail hydrogen fueling stations in the six areas at a cost estimated at $180 million over four years (two-thirds of that to be paid for by the government). This will "meet the fuel needs of 4,300 passenger vehicles and 20 fuel cell buses by 2014" Want to do the math with me? That's more than $41,000 per vehicle. Of course, since the CaFCP says they expect 50,000 fuel cell vehicles in customer hands by 2017, they consider the $180 million an investment in the future. You?"

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/25/california-fuel-cell-partnership-calls-for-46-retail-hydrogen-st/

Oh, btw: the page has banner AND sidebar ads for Shell gasoline. Seems like a conflict of interest to me...you?