Jul. 27--Sen. John McCain is hoping to trigger the development of a new advanced auto battery with his proposed $300-million prize to its creator. The incentive is being offered in the spirit of helping to ease the country's dependence on oil.

The idea is part of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's plan to deal with rising gas prices amid global warming.

The GOP presidential hopeful's suggestion is sure to get attention in the Motor City where discussion and work on alternative energy sources like batteries are increasing.

But don't expect local inventor Stan Ovshinsky to rush into the fray.

"A real inventor is not motivated by money. It's about the idea and the creation," says Ovshinsky.

Ovshinsky has been worried about our environment and dwindling supply of oil long before McCain, former Vice President Al Gore, or former President Jimmy Carter uttered a word about it.

Ovshinsky's been on a mission to wean us off oil and onto things like hydrogen and solar energy for more than 50 years. And he has the inventor pedigree to talk knowledgeably about it.

A brilliant inventor, he has more than 300 patents. He's been involved in the development of silicon semiconductor materials, which has given rise to a whole new segment of material engineering aiding in the construction of electric cars, and solar energy.

Not bad for a guy who never went to college. (He was forced to drop out of school during the Great Depression). But he has numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities across the world as a testament to his genius.

No slowing down

Ovshinsky and his late wife, Iris, started Energy Conversion Devices in 1960. It grew and in 2006, President George W. Bush stopped by to visit Unisolar, the company the Ovshinskys started to manufacture solar panels in Auburn Hills.

Following the death of his wife in 2006, Ovshinsky left the company last year.

At an age when most would have been well into their second decade of retirement, Ovshinsky, now 85, took a few weeks before deciding there was too much to be done on the alternative energy front and he started back to work.

Ovshinsky Innovations LLC in Bloomfield Hills started up earlier this year with a mission of creating alternative energy solutions.

Ovshinsky is in Japan raising capital for his newest venture. Although he won't reveal any specifics of his new operations, Ovshinsky is steadfast in his determination to help the United States with his ideas.

"A lot of people talk about problems. I have a history of coming up with solutions," he says. He appeared in a recent WWJ-TV special that dealt with energy issues called "Powering Michigan's Future." To view the program, go to www.wwjtv.com and click on "Videos" for the show name.

Back in action

You could describe it as a coming-out party of sorts for Peter Secchia.

The successful businessman, former ambassador to Italy and major power broker in the GOP has been recuperating from an auto accident, but decided to throw a party to raise money for McCain.

Secchia has been on the mend since Jan. 14, 2007, when the car he and his wife, Joan, were in was rear-ended on their way home from a Michigan State University basketball game. Both are recuperating from injuries sustained in the crash.

Though not 100%, Secchia knew his longtime pal, McCain, was in need of cash for his presidential bid. So, he opened the doors in his Ottawa County home to 214 people last week.

"I saw a lot of people who showed up that I had never met before. McCain is simply causing a lot of excitement with people."

When all tallied, the event raised $1.2 million for McCain.

CAROL CAIN hosts "Michigan Matters" at 8:30 a.m. Sundays on WWJ-TV (Channel 62) and 11:30 a.m. Sundays on WKBD-TV (Channel 50). She can be reached at clcain@cbs.com or 313-222-6732.

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Story Source: Detroit Free Press