Joseph Newman, A Saviour Or a Hoax?

I was watching the Discovery Channel yesterday and saw a special on Joseph Newman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Newman_%28inventor%29).  He claims to have invented what amounts to an energy amplifier that would greatly alleviate the pending energy crisis of the world, not to mention global warming.

Between then and now I've read almost everything that I could find on this man's inventions and there are some very credible sources saying that this is no joke.   There seem to be an equal number of not-so-credible sources (coupled with the U.S. Patent Office) claiming this to all be a sham.

I urge you all to do the research yourself and feel free to chime in with your opinions.  Throughout history inventors of every kind have had to fight against society's fear and superstition as well as "the powers that be" if what they've invented is a threat to their control or the balance of power.  It's no wonder certain aspects of our evolution seem to progress at a "snail's pace".