It doesn't have the sunny cache of solar or the exotic qualities of wind, tidal and geothermal power. But the potential of algae fuel's reported advances are hard to ignore. At least for this former reporter.
In my backyard at the University of California, Merced, researchers received a grant to "perform a comprehensive life cycle analysis study of algae biofuels." The money, a modest $142,747, is part of about $3.5 million issued by the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research program.
Algae takes a back seat in the grant to other projects that include improving grid reliability, energy efficiency and automobile fuel economy. But, hey, it's algae. Pond scum. This is the stuff that may be grown in wastewater settling ponds, harvested and turned into diesel fuel. Or food additives, you never know.
It's not cold fusion
The important thing is algae wasn't left out. It's not cold fusion. This stuff shows true promise as an alternative energy source.
