Republican John McCain, looking for ways to tackle the country's energy problems, is proposing a $300 million government prize to whomever can develop an automobile battery that far surpasses current technology.

"In the quest for alternatives to oil, our government has thrown around enough money subsidizing special interests and excusing failure," said McCain in remarks in a speech at Fresno State University in California yesterday.

"From now on, we will encourage heroic efforts in engineering, and we will reward the greatest success."