123andy

Algae Biofuels Have a Promising Future

Algal biofuels are down the road perhaps. Now these are substantially research projects. Don't confuse promise and potential with reality. At best one in 10, and more likey one in a 100 of promising research projects lead to a commercial success. Thermodynamics does rule. Fossil fuel production energy was invested over a long period of time (millions of years) and we did not make the investment, nature did. Photosynthesis does it real time, slow and steady and nature makes the investment. When we manipulate for profit all kinds of issues come to light as we learn reality. Despite Senator Boxer's or any other politicians wish, and investmentf our tax dollars it will take time to learn how it works, and if it is a sink for dollars or the source of a return. One of the problems we now face is that venture capitalists who used to risk their own money are mixing it up with politicians to force policy decisions in their favor and are now leveraging their own investments with our tax dollars. Not a good thing in my view

Can Big Oil Balance Shareholder Interest Against National Interest?

I really would not want "Big Oil" investing my money (through stock holdings) in alternate energy. They have a track record of poor performance (see Exxon's past investments in this area as well as lousy performance by BP and Shell, despite their advertisements to the countrary)) and I would much rather see new businesses emergy in which I will be investing. Transition to an alternate energy scenario first requires new and efficient technology. Investing in currently available and ready to commercialize technology is a lousy deal, they are simply not ready now, but will be with additional R&D&E in the next 5-10 years. Then they can start to grow and will require trillions of investment to be serious players. The transition period, some 20-30 years at least will require significant new fossil fuel energy sources and I would rather have oil companies focus on what they are good at, finding and producing and delivering those resources.