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.