Air Products Applauds President Bush's Statements for Increased Research Funding and Push for Clean Hydrogen Energy

    Cleaner Air, Energy Independence Will Benefit Environment and Economy

    LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 31 -- Air Products
, the world's largest supplier of merchant hydrogen, said today it
accepts the challenge President George W. Bush advanced in his State of the
Union Address calling for clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles.
    "This is a milestone along the path to energy independence and a healthy
environment.  Hydrogen is a fuel source that is abundant, efficient,
renewable, and non-polluting.  Air Products has made the safe production,
storage and handling of hydrogen its business for more than 50 years.  We
welcome the President's directives and we are excited about moving America
forward on this important path," said John P. Jones, III, Air Products'
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
    Air Products is a global leader in hydrogen production and distribution
and an industry leader in hydrogen safety engineering.  The company has been
in the forefront of developing hydrogen fueling stations for clean
transportation applications, and the technologies and systems for hydrogen
purification, generation and handling.  Air Products has taken a leading role
as a participant in numerous hydrogen energy demonstration projects in the
U.S. and Europe to bring low-cost distributed hydrogen production technologies
to the marketplace, and to promote the development of hydrogen energy
applications.  More information on Air Products' hydrogen fuel cell activities
can be found at http://www.airproducts.com/h2energy/index.asp.
    "Every day, millions of pounds of hydrogen are safely used by hundreds of
industries around the world.  Air Products is committed to ensuring the
potential use of hydrogen as a method for delivering energy for both
stationary and mobile applications is real," said Arthur T. Katsaros, Group
Vice President, Engineered Systems and Development at Air Products.  "Our
country has the opportunity to take a leadership role in the development and
commercialization of the global hydrogen economy.  Using hydrogen as a fuel
source has many benefits ranging from environmental, to helping the U.S. be
more competitive internationally, and at the same time increasing U.S. energy
self-sufficiency."
    In November 2002, Air Products and the United States Department of Energy
(DOE) dedicated the world's first hydrogen energy station featuring the co-
production of hydrogen fuel and electric power.  The energy station generates
hydrogen on-site, for both fueling vehicles and producing electricity.  The
project, located in Las Vegas, Nev., is a public-private partnership between
DOE, the City of Las Vegas, Air Products and Plug Power, Inc. ,
and serves as a commercial demonstration of hydrogen as a clean and safe
energy alternative.
    More recently, in December 2002, Air Products introduced a new hydrogen
fueling system that can easily be relocated to meet the changing needs of
customers including automobile manufacturers and developers of other hydrogen
fuel cell technologies.  The Air Products' Hydrogen Fueler, complete with
hook-ups and fueling dispenser, is mounted to a trailer to allow for vehicle
fueling based at a customer site, or is easily transported to promotional
events and remote endurance testing of hydrogen-fueled vehicles.
    Air Products serves customers in technology, energy, healthcare and
industrial markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of products, services and
solutions, providing atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases,
performance materials and chemical intermediates.  The company is the largest
global supplier of electronic materials, hydrogen, helium and select
performance chemicals.  Founded in 1940, Air Products is recognized for its
innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the
environment.  With annual revenues of $5.4 billion and operations in 30
countries, the company's 17,200 employees build lasting relationships with
their customers and communities based on understanding, integrity and passion.
For more information, visit http://www.airproducts.com.

    ***NOTE: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Actual
results could vary materially, due to changes in current expectations.