MANY EXPERTS LOOK TO HYDROGEN AS THE PERFECT ENERGY SOLUTION,
THE ULTIMATE, CLEAN, RENEWABLE RESOURCE.
HERE'S HOW HYDROGEN-FUELED
ELECTRICAL GENERATION COULD WORK.
>> A WIND TURBINE WOULD GENERATE ELECTRICITY,
AND THE ELECTRICITY WOULD BE USED TO BREAK DOWN WATER INTO HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN.
THE HYDROGEN WOULD BE STORED IN EITHER UNDERGROUND CAVERNS,
SUCH AS NATURAL GAS IS STORED NOW,
OR IN BIG TANKS.
THEN THAT HYDROGEN WOULD BE USED WHENEVER IT'S NEEDED.
IT COULD BE USED TO FUEL AUTOMOBILES.
AUTOMOBILES ARE NOW BEING DEVELOPED TO USE FUEL CELLS
WHICH CAN USE HYDROGEN.
IT COULD BE USED IN FUEL CELLS
FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY FOR THE GRID.
>> SOLAR PANELS COULD ALSO BE PUT TO USE
GENERATING ELECTRICITY TO PRODUCE HYDROGEN.
IT'S LIKE THAT OLD SAYING "MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES,"
BUT YOU MAKE HYDROGEN WHEN THE SUN SHINES
OR WHEN THE WIND BLOWS.
THE SYSTEM COULD MAKE THE MOST OF RENEWABLES' STRONG POINTS
AND AVOID THEIR DOWNFALLS.
IOWA SENATOR TOM HARKIN ADVOCATES A SWITCH TO HYDROGEN
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> IT AMAZES ME AND IT DEPRESSES ME
THAT THE OIL COMPANIES AND THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
HAS SUCH A GRIP ON THIS COUNTRY THAT WE CAN'T BREAK FREE OF THAT
TO GET THE HYDROGEN SYSTEM GOING IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE.
WE KNOW IT WORKS.
WE CAN GET THE PRICE DOWN.
AND PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE."
BUT WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST TO STORE THE NUCLEAR WASTE FOR 10,000 YEARS?
WE HAVEN'T FACTORED THAT IN YET.
WHAT'S IT GOING TO COST
IF WE CONTINUE TO BURN OIL AND FOSSIL FUELS
AND THE GREENHOUSE GASSES COME AND THE WORLD HEATS UP
AND WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO STAY COOL.
WHAT'S THAT GOING TO COST US
IN TERMS OF TRYING TO LIVE A DECENT LIFESTYLE?
WE HAVEN'T FACTORED THAT IN YET.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT,
THE COST OF HYDROGEN ENERGY BECOMES VERY CHEAP.
>> HYDROGEN HAS BEEN THE HOLY GRAIL OF ENERGY FOR 50 YEARS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT,
AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP.
BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CREATING, GENERATING, STORING,
TRANSPORTING HYDROGEN DOESN'T EXIST.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HORRENDOUS JOB TO DO IT.
NOBODY KNOWS QUITE HOW TO DO IT YET,
BUT THE GOAL IS SO GREAT,
THE PAYOFF IS SO TREMENDOUS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN.
WHETHER WE CAN GET THERE SOONER OR NOT IS THE CHALLENGE,
AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET THERE SOONER
BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
WE'VE GOT THE PLANET TO CONSIDER.