As the lights threaten to go dim in parts of the nation because of an energy shortage, the model for supplying clean and abundant electricity in the 21st century can be found at a Portland sewage plant. Still Expensive Methane collected from decomposing waste provides hydrogen to power a commercial fuel cell that transforms the volatile gas into enough electricity to light more than 100 homes for a year. Fuel cells were invented in the 19th century. But most Americans had never heard of them until a faulty one blew a hole in Apollo 13 in 1970, scuttling what would have been the third moon landing and nearly costing three astronauts their lives.
Fuel cells remain an essential part of the space program, reliably powering the space shuttle.
Millett says fuel cell technology was transformed during the last decade from a cottage industry into one of the most rapidly expanding high-tech businesses in the world, partly due to the automotive industry's suddenly keen interest in hybrid electric motors. As 2001 began, it was reported that Exxon Mobil Corp. planned to join Toyota and General Motors in an alliance to develop environmentally friendly fuel cell vehicles. Ford and Daimler-Chrysler also have fuel cell projects in the works. ONSI built units the size of a minivan to provide electricity to facilities that were too remote from the main power grid or needed reliable backup power, such as hospitals and resorts. General Electric is in, along with 3M, DuPont, United Technologies.