Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Yesterday we talked a little bit about President Obama’s energy speech from a “drilling for more oil is not a strategy that will solve our energy challenge” perspective, but we didn’t much cover Obama’s plans for an alternate source that would replace fossil fuels and effectively address that energy challenge.

In that same speech yesterday, Obama provided a glimpse into one possible “green” energy future: algae:

“We’re making new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel and jet fuel that’s actually made from a plant-like substance — algae,” the president said at a campaign stop in Florida. “You’ve got a bunch of algae out here, right? If we can figure out how to make energy out of that, we’ll be doing all right.”

Obama said the nation could replace up to 17 percent of the oil it imports for transportation with “this fuel that we can grow right here in the United States. And that means greater energy security. That means lower costs. It means more jobs. It means a stronger economy.”

So don’t fret gas prices America — the solution to your energy woes could be as close as that neglected aquarium in your dentist’s office. It’ll make a great charging station.

In 2010, the Feds doled out millions of dollars in grants to turn algae into fuel. We’ll know algae is ready for commercial use as fuel when the government starts taxing it until it’s more expensive than gasoline.

Just in case this algae thing ever comes anywhere near reaching critical mass, Daryl Hannah has already set up camp outside the White House to put a stop to it:

As another alternative, the Department of Energy has plans to harvest euphausiids for conversion into fuel in an initiative entitled “Krill, Baby, Krill.”

Wild prediction: Before the election, the administration will announce an investment of billions of taxpayer dollars to build a car called the Chevy Plankton.

**Written by Doug Powers

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