Algae - Green & Responsible Alternative Energy Source
Presenting Problems Without Current Solutions
A recent article by Elisabeth Rosenthal in the New York Times addresses some of the follies of using switch grass or giant reed as alternatives to corn, soy, palm oil or any other food stock as a biomass resource for the refining of biofuels. She comprehensively covers the negative impact on global food stock supplies and the potential for these and other weed-type species to invade and overcome native ecosystems.
The level of ignorance among current lawmakers in the U.S. regarding this problem and its potential solutions is tragic. Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, was recently quoted in a New York Times article by Andrew Martin, calling the criticism of using food stock for ethanol by foreign officials “a big joke.”
“You make ethanol out of corn,” he said. “I bet if I set a bushel of corn in front of any of those delegates, not one of them would eat it.” As if this somehow proves any point at all. With prices doubling, poor counties desperately need adequate and affordable supplies of food.
The Global Invasive Species Program has identified that the potential of invasive grasses and other species suggested as crops for biomass resources for biofuel, have serious environmental consequences in non-native ecosystems. Much of their research comes from the Invasive Species Council which also came to the same conclusions.
But neither of those organizations nor Ms. Rosenthal or Mr. Martin mention the use of algae biomass for the production of biofuel. Just the exponentially higher yields per acre that algae produces would be worth mentioning. That doesn't take into account that 2/3 of the weight of algae is made up of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, creating a more closed loop energy resource as it sequesters one of the very gases causing global warming in the first place. Then there is the fact that it can be grown re-using 90% of the resources and that it can be grown in a desert environment leaving primary and secondary food stock crop land to produce food.
As awareness grows so will the greater social and global consciousness. Then interest will drive investment and government involvement.
The level of ignorance among current lawmakers in the U.S. regarding this problem and its potential solutions is tragic. Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, was recently quoted in a New York Times article by Andrew Martin, calling the criticism of using food stock for ethanol by foreign officials “a big joke.”
“You make ethanol out of corn,” he said. “I bet if I set a bushel of corn in front of any of those delegates, not one of them would eat it.” As if this somehow proves any point at all. With prices doubling, poor counties desperately need adequate and affordable supplies of food.
The Global Invasive Species Program has identified that the potential of invasive grasses and other species suggested as crops for biomass resources for biofuel, have serious environmental consequences in non-native ecosystems. Much of their research comes from the Invasive Species Council which also came to the same conclusions.
But neither of those organizations nor Ms. Rosenthal or Mr. Martin mention the use of algae biomass for the production of biofuel. Just the exponentially higher yields per acre that algae produces would be worth mentioning. That doesn't take into account that 2/3 of the weight of algae is made up of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, creating a more closed loop energy resource as it sequesters one of the very gases causing global warming in the first place. Then there is the fact that it can be grown re-using 90% of the resources and that it can be grown in a desert environment leaving primary and secondary food stock crop land to produce food.
As awareness grows so will the greater social and global consciousness. Then interest will drive investment and government involvement.
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