The concept of using H-2 as a long-term solution to the problems of planetary warming and pollution was triggered by a conversation about calculations due to Lawaczek. who claimed in the 1930s that sending energy in H-2 through pipes would be cheaper than sending it through wires. I published the first note proposing H-2 storage and transmission of energy phis use of fuel cells as the general solution to climate environmental decay in 1971, a full paper in 1972 and the first book in 1975. H-2 would be used instead of natural gas in industry. particularly in metallurgical extractions and in the home, To extract H-2 from water at 2020 would be similar to20% more expensive than present gasoline - if one allows the pollutional costs of gasoline to be taken into account. (C) 2002 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.