would love to see this utilized sooner rather than later.

Well since it's been in development for 40 years I wouldn't hold your breath.

Exxon mobile is working on it too.
http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/ene ... algae.aspx

Way to burst my bubble.

algae doesn't work. algae has to be grown in really controlled environments, because if it is out in an open pond, one bird pooping on it (nitrogen) will wreck it. the highest oil producing algae also grows the slowest- you can't get the best of both worlds, they've been trying to cross breed it for about 15 years. storage is a pain, too- what do you do with an acre of algae? it's not like crops where you sell the fruits and use the rest of the plant. it's incredibly expensive.

no, the best form of biofuel right now is biodiesel or methane digesters at farms. as far as alternative energy goes, up here, solar is by far the most effective form of alternative energy, both photovoltaic and solar hot water. after that, wood gasification is the best bet. wind is a distant fourth. at fully optimized levels, windpower is only 59% efficient, and due to turbulence, friction, etc.., we never get even close to that.

in all seriousness though, the best way for work on this is to get people to start getting off the grid on our own. PV cells should have a federal tax credit that rivals the homebuyer's. however, if you do want to really be grid free, you should invest in SEVERAL systems- solar PV, wood gasification, and maybe a small 1-2 kW wind turbine.

Possibly the most efficient means of energy reduction is world-wide population reduction (in the form of smaller families...one or two children per). Our world of ever increasing energy demands will never change, only continue to consume larger amounts of energy. Cheaper, more efficient, and more ecologically friendly fuels will merely mean more consumption. Our corporate world could give two shits about energy consumption. And most of the world's middle class are too busy squeezing out a living. Unless a concerted, committed world wide effort is set in motion, eg. world wide cooperation (not likely), do-gooders like Al "the sky is falling" Gore, will continue to spout off about how everyone is ruining the planet from his limo and his jet. But then again, worldwide population reduction would dictate the same world-wide cooperation.....eventually Mother Nature will prevail and reduce the population. Until then, 90% of the people will be concerned, 70% will bitch, 30% will attempt, 2% will do something, and 10% will thwart that 2%. I say, lets use up the fossil fuels as fast as possible until the supply is depleted (BTW, in the next few years, world consumption will surpass production..HOLY SHIT! we had better get a military presence to the Middle East to secure our share....), then something will have to be done or humanity will perish leaving the Earth to return its normality of 4.5 billion years, and the few humans left will evolve into the next species. In a couple of million years from now, Archeologists will uncover remains of a great city near the ocean.

1. I don't disagree with you on Algea, early on in its infancy and needs much work. But, I am happy the industry is exploring options.

2. My company sells this equipment and we have installation teams nationally.

3. By the way, 2005, the world surpassed supply and demand sustainability. In the month of July 2005 the world orderd up 102 million barrels of oil, supply never exceeded 88 million barrels.

4. The problem is already here for transportation. As for coal, supplies are larger than oil, but the United States now sends 17% of its mined coal to China for consumption, that number is expected to tripple over the next 12 years.