A rolling stone is gathering moss

PetroSun commenced operations yesterday at what is believed to be the first-ever commercial algae-to-biodiesel facility. The Rio Hondo, Texas plant won’t be making fuel immediately, but operations at the algae farm, comprising about 1,100 acres of saltwater pond, have begun.

        Scottsdale, Ariz.-based PetroSun said the facility will produce a minimum of 4.4 million gallons of algal oil and 110 million pounds of biomass on an annual basis. And, plans are in the works to expand the size of the algae farm at some point in the future.
        "Our business model has been focused on proving the commercial feasibility of the firm's algae-to-biofuels technology during the past eighteen months," said Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., CEO of PetroSun.
        "Whether we have arrived at this point in time by a superior technological approach, sheer luck or a redneck can-do attitude," LeBlanc said, "The fact remains that microalgae can outperform the current feedstocks utilized for conversion to biodiesel and ethanol, yet do not impact the consumable food markets or fresh water resources."

Comments

[Sam Teague]

Ever since ethanol FROM CORN was first touted as biofuel, I thought "You have got to be kidding!".

Even a non-scientist could see the overwhelming problems: Corn is a food staple for humans and many farm animals. In some years, not enough corn is produced for food purposes let alone for fuel. And there is insufficient land suitable for the growing of corn to handle even a small portion of the increased requirement for ethanol. Corn is not the most abundant and inexpensive plant available for the production of ethanol. I believed then and I believe now that the strong arm of ADM lobbyists is behind the corn-for-ethanol initiative. Who benefits MOST from this assanine idea? All the predicted scenarios have played out exactly as expected. It is time to TOTALLY abandon the use of CORN for the production of biofuel!