While skimming the latest headlines this morning I noticed this column in the Arizona Replublic about algae. It was written about ASU Professor Mark Edwards who had just contributed a post to AzSustainably on Tuesday. The republic also published a quote from Edward’s synopsis of his book off this site. So after the initial excitement of seeing AzSustainably.com’s address in the Republic I read the actual article and it was very interesting.

Basically it was about how Algae could help diversify Arizona’s economy by sparking new types of manufacturing here.

While algae won’t replace major sectors, the organisms could help diversify the economy and spark new kinds of manufacturing. Their byproducts, for example, can be used in jet fuel, medicine, makeup, beer and pet food.

A few local companies already are harvesting algae commercially.

“We have a huge competitive advantage here,” said Edwards, a food-marketing expert, who added that Arizona could have a “green gold rush.”
Full Article at azcentral.com

Mark Edwards, PhD, Arizona State University

Burning 100 million tons of our primary food for fuel is unsustainable and wastes non-renewable resources, especially water. Growing massive amounts of corn represents ecological suicide as it drains trillions of gallons of non-replenishable groundwater, spikes food and fuel prices, decimates food exports and threatens millions with starvation from a food cascade.

Biowar I inflicts costs, casualties and catastrophe in a magnitude far greater than a conventional war. Taxpayers are forced to pay $43 B annually to subsidize erosion and pollution of our air and water for a tiny, 2.4%, replacement of foreign oil. America has insufficient disposable cropland, water or energy to waste on a policy that fails its objectives.

Compared with biofuel alternatives:

• Corn requires more water, land, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides

• Severely pollutes air, soils, rivers, lakes and well-water

• Degrades and erodes soils at the rate of 6 tons per acre

• Grows slowly and produces a low energy biomass yield, 3%

Corn ethanol is not sustainable. It consumes too much water, land, fertilizer and energy. The direct and indirect costs of the ethanol industry are neither sustainable nor sensible for farmers, consumers, taxpayers or food support recipients.

Biowar І offers sustainable alternative to corn ethanol, algae which does not compete for food cropland, uses 0.001 as much water and creates an ecologically positive footprint. Algae is over 30 times more productive than corn and can be made into higher value products such as jet fuel and green diesel. The coproducts from algae, proteins and carbohydrates, may have more value for food, medicines, animal feed and low energy input fertilizers than the oils used for making jet fuel. See more about Biowar І at www.biowar1.com .

• Biowar I Summary and FAQ

This last Friday’s topic on NPR’s Talk of the Nation Science Friday focus’ on the potential of solar to power the country. Topics covered include the solar thermal plant that is planned near Gila Bend. Guests include Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Head over to NPR and listen online. click here

Nova had a great episode all about solar power. They cover solar for home, large scale solar plants, and incentives for solar. Support by the German government has made solar a huge industry there. In America business is supporting solar in a big way. What does the future of solar have in store for us? Paint on solar collectors for our roofs? Is it time to take solar seriously? Find out by watching a repeat showing of this on PBS March 18th, check local listings, or watch it now online here.

Eventually I’d love to be able to put solar panels on my house, keep the tax incentives coming.

As Arizona looks to tap more of its most abundant resource, sunshine, state lawmakers want to help make that happen by creating tax breaks for power-plant builders and helping homeowners, businesses and schools convert to solar power.

At least six bills this session address solar energy.

Article at azcentral.com