New energies from old beings and global warming

We at Boggs Development Group are interested in some new business models for global warming solutions, and fuel alternative sciences. There are a few ideas "floating" out there and some others that are "bubbling up" that show high interest to us.

The science that if one were to spread iron filings that float across the oceans, the idea goes, that this process will promote algae growth. The algae forms and attaches itself to the iron filings, just as a sunken ship that eventually grows coral and algae communities around it. Algae then, by concentrated volume absorbs carbon dioxide. The algae does eventually die and will then sink to the bottom of the ocean. This was verified and studied over a decade ago in the Southern Ocean and suggests that the underlying ideas behind the science are sound. Since then, there have been studies that show an algae pack holds a far denser punch energy wise than the plants now used as energy crops. In fact, they produce oils of the kind valued as biodiesel and are a good replacement for mineral oils. Harvesting these little creatures is a bit of a challenge, but can be done more easily in controlled environments.

We have found a company, Planktos Inc., that is "planting" these iron particles across the ocean. It is their idea that by the institution of CO2 credits, through their business model, they will be able to sell off their CO2 credits to other companies that need them to help offset their old or fossilized business models. We find this is a win win for science and business as these fossil fuel manufacturing companies make transitional phases to their plants and processes.

It was shown in a recent conference in Oxford that an area the size of the North Sea could yield enough biodiesel to replace fossil fuels used in transportation today. If science can find ways to harvest these millimeter or less sized CO2 eating beings in an economical way biofuel aquaculture would be as green as you could get.

There is also new fields in geothermal energies that are showing promise. There is a new California Senate Bill #107 that will force California to produce 20% of its power from alternative energy sources by 2010 and to reach 33% by 2020. Geothermal energy needs no land mass to create power plants. It needs no fossil fuels or uranium to generate and distribute its product. Its waste byproduct is steam. Nice.

You see, there are numerous ways for us to power our lives on this planet that require little to no petroleum based products. This will help eliminate our foreign dependence on a very historically unstable political region. These new sciences can bring new jobs and economies of scale that will be likened to those of the early industrial age and the beginnings of the computer age.

There is promise and solutions out there. If we work with these other live beings, we call algae, we can work together to keep our planet healthy and prosperous.