Howdy BESTers,
Here's quick quip by Pres. Obama on algae:
http://www.algaeindustrymagazine.com/obama-and-algae/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AlgaeIndustryMagazine+%28Algae+Industry+Magazine%29
FYI...the number he cited (17% of imported petroleum for transportation) comes from a recent study by the Pacific Northwest National Lab:
Mark S. Wigmosta, Andre M. Coleman, Richard J. Skaggs, Michael H.
Huesemann, Leonard J. Lane. 2011.
National Microalgae Biofuel Production
Potential and Resource Demand. Water Resources Research.
http://www.agu.org/journals/wr/wr1104/2010WR009966/. DOI:10.1029/2010WR009966
"Our study suggests that under current technology, microalgae have the potential to generate 220 × 109 L yr−1
of oil, equivalent to 48% of current U.S. petroleum imports for
transportation. However, this level of production requires 5.5% of the
land area in the conterminous United States and nearly three times the
water currently used for irrigated agriculture, averaging 1421 L water
per liter of oil. Optimizing the locations for microalgae production on
the basis of water use efficiency can greatly reduce total water demand.
For example, focusing on locations along the Gulf Coast, southeastern
seaboard, and Great Lakes shows a 75% reduction in consumptive
freshwater use to 350 L per liter of oil produced with a 67% reduction
in land use. These optimized locations have the potential to generate an
oil volume equivalent to 17% of imports for transportation fuels, equal
to the Energy Independence and Security Act year 2022 “advanced
biofuels” production target and utilizing some 25% of the current
irrigation demand. With proper planning, adequate land and water are
available to meet a significant portion of the U.S. renewable fuel goals."
Here's to 21 billion gallons of Floridian algal oil!
Cheers,
Scott