If we could just figure out an alternative fuel to power our cars, we could eliminate nearly two thirds of our dependence on foreign oil, but what can take its place and get us standing on our own two feet?
You’ve heard about using corn and soybeans and especially palm oil to create biodiesel but they require huge amounts of agricultural acreage, massive volumes of water and chemicals and labor to produce. They also put a tremendous strain on our pocketbooks at the supermarket by driving up food costs.

So what else is there? How about hydrogen powered fuel cells? Well…not really. A bit too volatile and expensive with the price of the car itself and the cost of installing hydrogen fuel pumps around the country.

So lets go back to biodiesel. Engines that run on petroleum diesel can also run on biodiesel and that would mean that we wouldn’t have to replace the whole fuel distribution infrastructure. That’s a big plus economically. So, is there a way that we can produce it?

Well, yes there is. Algae - good ole pond scum - the fastest growing plant on earth that just happens to suck up the most carbon dioxide too.  Sounds good, but here is what makes it the perfect solution: certain strains of algae can produce as much as 50% of its weight in oil - pure grade vegetable oil. It is among the most photosynthetically efficient plants at converting solar energy into chemical energy which makes it a better solution from a biofuels perspective.

Valcent is a company I came across working on bio-reactor technology to provide this profitable and viable renewable energy resource and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They call it Vertigro. I think their CEO does a great job presenting it in the following clip and gives us a ton of information:

So if we grow a particular species of algae it can provide as much as 50% of its weight in oil AND we can use the so-called waste from the process as fertilizer, feed stock or ferment it to make ethanol.

“The Vertigro process also absorbs and sequesters carbon dioxide, potentially garnering saleable carbon credits. In a joint venture with Global Green Solutions, Inc. four one-quarter acre greenhouses have been constructed and stocked with Vertigro bioreactors in El Paso, Texas. This pilot project is intended to demonstrate commercial scale production and substantiate projected vegetable oil yields of 180,000 gallons per acre per year, and confirm estimated production costs of $25 per barrel. Vertigro is scalable and multi-suited for a wide variety of environments and climates. It has potential for global impact as it provides a desperately required, profitable source of vegetable oil feedstock for biodiesel and does not negatively impacting the cost of food crops, such as corn and soy.”

This is the best environmental news I’ve heard about a possible plan for the future of this country. So what are we waiting for - besides a new President?