Algae: The Biofuel Revolution

This is great news!

The sustainable energy age has begun. It was recently announced that a company in Florida called Green Flight International (GFI) has plans to construct a $100-million, algae biofuel plant aimed at making fuel for the aviation industry as well as for ground-based transportation.

GFI has also completed the world's first jet-aircraft flight powered by 100% biofuel. GFI president and CEO Douglas Rodante says that "algae-based biofuel would be able to replace petroleum without alterations to engines or infrastructure, and could be used for all sorts of transportation."

The potential of algae biofuel for both vehicles and air travel is so promising that it will play a large role in helping America finally become energy independent. Biofuel from algae completely eliminates the food vs. fuel concerns of other biofuels, and CO2 will be significantly reduced. Algae are the fastest growing plants in the world, and that fact translates into 20,000 gallons of biofuel per acre! Soybean, corn, switchgrass and other biofuels cannot even compete.

Since the average diesel engine is 35% more efficient than a gasoline engine, maybe the Big Three auto manufacturers in the US crying for a bailout would be wise to create a nice selection of diesel-hybrids, because only diesel engines can run on biofuels.

In Europe, there already exists the "Volkswagen One-Litre," which is a "two-seater prototype that’s been on the roads in Europe, does 237 mpg." It is estimated that by 2010, these cars will be running at 250 mpg.

Try doing a search for the "VW Lupo" or "Audi A2," however - the Lupo seems to have disappeared much like the EV1 by GM did. What's up with that?

As an example of innovative green technology, there are several cool diesel motorcycles, such as: "The eCycle Hybrid Motorcycle is a...diesel-electric hybrid...accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6 sec and with fuel consumption at 160 mpg." Diesel motorcycles have been old news throughout Europe for years. I'd love to see Harley-Davidson create a diesel-hybrid with fuel efficiency in mind for Americans.

The use of biofuels in diesel engines has been clearly known for 100 years:

"The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in course of time as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time."

- Rudolph Diesel, 1912

I encourage Americans to learn the history of Rudolf Diesel and his diesel engine, created in 1895, which used biofuel over 110 years ago. After Diesel’s death, the idea of fueling engines with biofuel was quietly swept under the rug. His original designs were modified, and Diesel engines were made to run on petroleum fuels.

This information about Diesel shows how long vehicle manufacturers and big oil companies have known that we never needed to be addicted to oil - and just look where that addiction has gotten us! We are on the verge of global chaos, with countries going bankrupt, while other countries like Saudi Arabia have been enriched through oil money to conquer once-powerful nations like Great Britain and the U.S. Many of our most dire problems on this planet, from pollution to political chaos, can be traced to oil consumption.

Rural areas, towns and cities across America could have their own algae plants customized to their own local needs. This development could minimize fuel distribution costs and reduce traffic by keeping those semis off the roads too.

Americans need to demand that the government and manufacturers get serious on this issue now. With our persistence, author Tom Friedman will be right: Green will become the new red, white and blue.

Sources:

GFI to build $100M plant
Green Flight International
Bio Fuels Revolution
Renewable Energy Lab
Algae Biofuels Of The Future
Algae Biodiesel Photo Bioreactors and Algae Harvesting
Algae the Perfect Biofuels Feedstock
Origin Oil

ALGAE -- THE HOLY GRAIL OF BIOFUEL?

Revenge of the Electric Car

While the Big Three U.S. automakers in Detroit cry for a $25-billion dollar bailout, we should keep in mind the documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car." This important documentary released in 2006 investigates the "creation, limited commercialization and subsequent destruction of the battery-powered electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s."

CAR-ma?

On November 14, 2008, Nate Holden, former California State Senator and L.A. City Councilmember, held a press conference demanding General Motors apologize to the American people for destroying the automaker’s EV1 plug-in electric vehicle. Mr. Holden demanded the EV1’s immediate re-introduction before, or in exchange for, any Government bailout of GM.

GM now has a hybrid-electric car called the Volt due in 2010. It promises to be a great car - it's just far too late.

Chris Paine, director of "Who Killed The Electric Car," is currently working on the sequel titled, "Revenge of the Electric Car."

Simply put, the Big Three don't deserve a bailout - they've had 30 years of bad management and refused to give the American people what they wanted: Fuel-efficient vehicles. Instead, they seemed to be holding hands with the oil companies and other special interest groups, making big gas guzzlers. Because of this obvious conspiracy, they destroyed every one of those EV1 electric vehicles.

I don't trust the fear-mongering about what might happen if the US taxpayer doesn't give them the $25-Billion bailout. Remember the $700-Billion bank bailout just 7 weeks ago? And just last week Treasury Secretary Paulson publicly nixed that plan almost completely - although he kept the money, of course. The US taxpayer should be protesting in the streets demanding their money be returned. I cannot trust this government at all - no more bailouts for the same old bad business models that haven't been working for American citizens for 30 years. If small business did what current government & big business have been doing for 30 years, they'd be in jail.

I say give a new car manufacturer a try - one who will make the necessary adjustments, keeping in mind future energy issues, sustainability and foreign oil from countries who hate America and are trying to destroy this nation. Oil companies who do not have America's best interests at heart have had a monopoly for far too long.

Of course, I am concerned about all the jobs lost, if the Big Three go under. However, let's keep in mind that Obama's energy plan promises "5 Million new Green Jobs... that cannot be outsourced." And the plan includes putting "1 million Plug-In Hybrid/flexible fuel vehicles, which can get up to 150 miles per gallon of gas -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America." So far, that's something I can stand behind that is definitely a better alternative to what we've got now. That is something really exciting to look forward to.

Now is a perfect time for such a new direction, with a new automobile industry and a new President who promises to finally give the U.S. a real energy policy, for the first time in 30 years. Hopefully, Obama will also consider the Pickens Plan. These are great opportunities, if the US government and business can get it together.

The Stone Age didn't end because they ran out of stones. So it should be with the fossil-fuel industry - let's end it before we run out of oil, and before it ends us! I have no problem saying, "Good riddance!" to the oil industry. Let it and these dinosaur automakers remain in the last century. Bring in the sustainable energy age.

Sources:

Who Killed the Electric Car
Bring Back the GM EV1 Press Conference
Pickens Plan
Revenge of the Electric Car
New Energy for America Plan