OFF SHORE DRILLING VS BIO FUELS DEBATE

Even through the summer adjournment, about 2-dozen Republican members of the House of Representatives continued energy speeches on Monday. The group is reportedly trying to drive the Democrats and most notably House Speaker Nancy Peloski to vote on offshore oil drilling. However, many Democrats respond that the idea of oil exploration and offshore drilling will not decrease the prices at the pump. The House GOP also opted to stay on the floor last week at the beginning of summer recess and proceeded to give speeches to an otherwise empty chamber for 5-hours on Friday.
Researchers are looking into using algae as a new biofuel for vehicles. Supporters of the alternative fuel say that algae needs only sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients to grow. In fact, supporters say algae growth helps cut down on carbon dioxide released from vehicle emissions and therefore, it actually helps the environment. One 15-year study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory closed in 1996 after the group concluded that algae-based fuel costs were too expensive for national use. However, times have changed and oil is no longer 20-dollars per barrel as it was when the study was first analyzed. Based on the research, another group estimated that to build algae farms nationally for replacing petroleum fuels, it would cost about 308-billion-dollars plus maintenance fees, and many in the industry are saying that this figure is a bargain compared to the money currently being spent on crude oil.
And General Motors Corporation is considering adding natural gas to the list of possible oil alternatives. One company researcher said recently that natural gas is abundant, affordable and relatively clean. Some problems associated with using natural gas for vehicles is the safety of compressing the fuel and the lack of driving range between fill-ups. GM has already worked to develop battery-powered, hydrogen and corn-based ethanol vehicles. It said it plans to develop the Volt by 2010 that would run on battery-power and ...

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[donsjuand]

Natural gas is NOT clean because it contains methane as primary ingredient. Methane is known to contribute significantly to climate change emissions, as does petroleum through co2 and more.

[donsjuand]

Algae as biofuel is not new at all...it's been on the shelf for reasons as diverse as the motivations of parties in a position to do anything.

[donsjuand]

@donnnyplato1 Competes for food space.

[donsjuand]

Oil companies owe a tremendous debt to society.

[M1ST3RHYDE]

@donnahlane

Iv seen 4 Blow the F- up, It was actually realy Cool; But thats besides the fact. 3rd rate corn that is used as feed by animals & poor people is effected. Natural gas mining Fracturing fluids are worse than oil polution, I guess what im sayn is we are fuckd almost any way we get Energy as long as its plucked from earth.

[donnahlane]

Go ethanol...How many corn fields have you seen blow up and destroy anything???

[donnnyplato1]

ethanol is the way to go ask brazil thats all they use

[vcdaniels]

2:38

That's a hell of a lot cheaper than what the Spill Baby, Spill, I mean, Drill Baby Drill plan is turning out to cost now.

[circusboy90210]

yes finite as in there is only so much ... very rational thought but unrational to think we use enough to be out of it within the next 10,000 years

[criticallistenphile]

@circusboy90210 It does, but Algae uses massive amounts of co2 to grow. In addition, there is a difference between pumping sequestered carbon (oil) out of the ground and introducing it into the existy carbon cycle system. Remember, Law of Conservation of Matter - carbon cannot be created nor distroyed. So, to use carbon from our existy carbon cycle system is a better idea than pumping sequestered (non cycling) carbon into our current system. Algae, keeps the carbon in the system-doesn't add