Comments on: Why Aren’t More People Talking About Biofuel From Algae? http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/09/why-arent-more-people-talking-about-biofuel-from-algae/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Fri, 25 May 2012 17:16:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Chad @ Sentient Money http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/09/why-arent-more-people-talking-about-biofuel-from-algae/comment-page-1/#comment-320865 Chad @ Sentient Money Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:09:00 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2572#comment-320865 The infrastructure for any new energy technology is really the sticking point. It costs a lot to build the plants and resources to create energy and costs a lot to move that energy to the consumer. None of the existing energy players want to kill their golden goose, so they won't make it easy for the existing system to be used for other fuels. Unfortunately, a viable alternative energy system will have to be spearheaded by the government. The free market will take too long. The infrastructure for any new energy technology is really the sticking point. It costs a lot to build the plants and resources to create energy and costs a lot to move that energy to the consumer.

None of the existing energy players want to kill their golden goose, so they won’t make it easy for the existing system to be used for other fuels. Unfortunately, a viable alternative energy system will have to be spearheaded by the government. The free market will take too long.

]]> By: Phil http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/09/why-arent-more-people-talking-about-biofuel-from-algae/comment-page-1/#comment-320260 Phil Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:21:22 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2572#comment-320260 What you are missing is that there is still a lot more work to be done before biofuels can go prime time. Do you realize that most of these articles you post are PR from startups trying to raise VC money? This is not to detract from the industry - it's just how innovation works these days. As the previous commenter eluded to, if the US had a wise energy policy, we'd likely be there now, but instead we have an energy policy that spends only about a week's worth of fighting in Iraq on alt fuels (we are currently living in an idiocracy!). Biofuels will happen to some degree and if the problems are solved, they will supply a fair amount of our transportation sector's needs. The nearest competitor (IMHO) is improvements in secondary battery technology that pushes the transportation sector over to electric/hybrids. What you are missing is that there is still a lot more work to be done before biofuels can go prime time. Do you realize that most of these articles you post are PR from startups trying to raise VC money? This is not to detract from the industry – it’s just how innovation works these days. As the previous commenter eluded to, if the US had a wise energy policy, we’d likely be there now, but instead we have an energy policy that spends only about a week’s worth of fighting in Iraq on alt fuels (we are currently living in an idiocracy!).

Biofuels will happen to some degree and if the problems are solved, they will supply a fair amount of our transportation sector’s needs. The nearest competitor (IMHO) is improvements in secondary battery technology that pushes the transportation sector over to electric/hybrids.

]]> By: Philip http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/09/why-arent-more-people-talking-about-biofuel-from-algae/comment-page-1/#comment-320002 Philip Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:53:46 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2572#comment-320002 They state that it would require 15,000 sq miles to have enough energy for all of US transportation. I wonder how many square miles of corn used for fuel are currently being used. Very intriguing stuff, I really would love to see any technology take off. I like that this is used to create a diesel fuel as opposed to electricity like wind turbines or solar panels. This allows it to be more easily transportable. As it states this stuff was being developed in the 70's, too bad we didn't try to take it from then, we would likely be set by now! They state that it would require 15,000 sq miles to have enough energy for all of US transportation. I wonder how many square miles of corn used for fuel are currently being used.

Very intriguing stuff, I really would love to see any technology take off. I like that this is used to create a diesel fuel as opposed to electricity like wind turbines or solar panels. This allows it to be more easily transportable.

As it states this stuff was being developed in the 70′s, too bad we didn’t try to take it from then, we would likely be set by now!

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