Dr. Teem. Yes, sir, that is what I am saying. It has that limitation, which I just pointed out in my answer to your previous question. There are methods of getting the power, however, from the ocean to the areas where it is needed, both through underwater cable, as also by converting the electricity into some chemical form of energy, whether it would be hydrogen or some other form, at the plant, and then transshipping that and introducing it into the system, either through reconversion or through other ways. We have analyses of these being carried out now in substantive detail—and we are looking at these. Senator Ford. Doctor, looking at what we've just said, would it be accurate to say then that among the solar electric application technologies, only satellite solar power offers the potential of providing baseload power throughout the country? Dr. Teem. I don't believe that we have sufficient knowledge at this point to say unequivocally that the answer to that is either yes or no. Again, we have got to look at what the economics of advanced energy storage technologies are. And if you look toward the amount of investment that would be required to put the satellite power system into being, and look at the benefit from that—which looks like, from these analyses, would be very substantial—one must also look at the amount of improvement on the economics that could benefit from, perhaps even less, but certainly substantive amounts of research and development in energy storage technology. And there are a number of concepts that look as though they could assist in that area. Senator Ford. You are talking about underwater cable—and this system has to be on the coastline. Dr. Teem. I was referring to using photovoltaics, for example, and also solar thermal electric with energy storage. Senator Ford. I think the way you answered the question, though, it indicates that maybe you ought to give serious consideration to finding some funds so we might get into this solar power satellite area a little bit. Doctor, I am not trying to impose on you here today—and I want to tell you that I sympathize with you in the position you are in, because I know every one is pulling at you to look at their concept, look at their ideas, and you have to make a judgment—and I respect you for your ability to handle-this situation. You are juggling, if I can use that term, a lot of problems. And I think it will require a tremendous amount of work and a tremendous amount of worry—and your hair at the end of this year may be a little grayer than it is. I want you to know I wish you all the success in the world, and I will work with you in any way I possibly can. I just want you to know that we are concerned, we are not trying to go all out and ask you for billions of dollars today. We just hope that you can find some money so we can get into an arena that I think is going to be very beneficial—and if it isn't, we can stop it at the right time, because I think we have a self-destruct attitude here, from the economists that reported to us this morning. So any way I can help you or your staff, any way we can cooperate, I certainly want to offer you that assistance now. Dr. Teem. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Senator Ford. I hope we can find you some more money now.
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