Hydrogen plays a significant role in the world's energy economy, but this role is almost exclusively as a chemical - hydrogen is rarely used as a fuel. The use of hydrogen as a fuel in the utility and transportation sectors faces hurdles that need to be overcome in order to transition to a hydrogen energy economy. In addition to a lack of infrastructure to support the widespread distribution and use of hydrogen, there exists a persistent perception that hydrogen is unsafe. Widespread hydrogen use will require that safety be intrinsic to all processes and systems. To develop a hydrogen infrastructure that has the public's confidence in its safety and convenience, an industry consensus on safety issues, the development of compatible standards and formats (e.g., the same couplings for dispensing the same form of fuel), and product certification protocols are required. The national and international standards organizations are developing the rules under which hydrogen will be produced, transported, stored and used. This ultimately evolves to trade related issues when hydrogen is in widespread use. For that day to come hydrogen must have a set of rules for code officials and fire marshals in the 35,000 jurisdictions in the United States to refer. The hydrogen community in the U.S. must participate in these activities to assure that the standards used are safe, fair and compatible with any existing domestic standards.; The NHA is under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to identify and develop the standards necessary. Utilizing; industry expertise and coordinating with Government and other official entities, this barrier to commercialization may be overcome, allowing siting of hydrogen components and systems on a world-wide basis.