Blatant Reality

Back in December it was announced that the US military will help fund some research in creating algae biofuels, particularly aviation fuel.  Now, seven months later, an AP article interviews some of the researchers who received the military’s funding.

In this fairly lengthy interview, the tone is optimistic but at the same time reserved. For example, upbeat statements like these:

Work at the lab is part of a Pentagon project aimed at fast-tracking research to eventually produce algae-based biofuel that costs less than $3 per gallon, can be produced at a rate of 50 million gallons per year and meets strict military standards.

 

“We believe it’s possible. We wouldn’t invest in it if we didn’t,” said Jan Walker, a spokeswoman for the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, the Defense Department’s main research arm.

Are often followed with statements like these:

Back at the Utah State lab — where algae are shaken, stirred and stressed in the name of science — Muhs tempers his excitement over the potential of the green slime with a dose of reality. Algae fuels could be a transition-type fuel in the coming years but aren’t the singular savior to weaning modern society from petroleum.

 

“It’s not a silver bullet,” he said.

However, it is reasonable for scientists to be cautious about being too optimistic. By adding a dose of caution, these scientists will hopefully soften the blow of any setbacks their research may experience. Without it, funding could potentially be pulled if they experienced any setbacks in their research.

It is always better to be a little pragmatic in your predictions and wow your investors with the outcomes than overly optimistic in the predictions and not quite research your goals.

I mentioned in a post a couple days ago that President Obama is named in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and there was a particular scene where his foreign policy seemed to be bashed. Well, I got the transcript to this particular scene for you to enjoy:

[As armed troops in Hummers surround Autobots and Major Lennox’s men, Lennox starts to yell at those surrounding his men to stand down.]

 

Major Lennox: Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons! Tell them to lower their weapons. Tell them to lower their weapons now!

 

Army Officer: Major, there is nothing I can do. Talk to him.

 

[Galloway, special envoy from President Obama, steps out of a Hummer]

 

Galloway: Your NEST team has been deactivated. You are to cease anti-Decepticon operations and return to Diego Garcia pending further orders.

 

Major Lennox: No, we take our orders directly from chairman Morshower.

 

Galloway: I will see your chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and raise you a President of the United States.

 

[Galloway shows Major Lennox papers from the President]

 

Galloway: I have operational command now.

 

Galloway: An alien blood feud has been brought to our shores for which our soldiers are paying the price.

 

[Galloway looks towards the Autobots]

 

Galloway: The secret is out! This is our war now and we will win it as we’ve always have… with a coordinated military strategy.

 

One of the Autobots: This fool is terribly misinformed.

 

Major Lennox: You’re going to need every asset we’ve got…

 

Galloway: What we need is to draw battle plans as we explore every possible diplomatic solution.

 

Major Lennox: Like what? Handing over the kid?

 

[Pause before Galloway answers]

 

Galloway: All options are being considered.

 

[Galloway turns and walks away]

 

Random foreign military personnel: Whatever the Decepticons are after, this is just the start.

 

Major Lennox: There is no negotiating with them…

 

Galloway: I am ordering you to stand down. You won’t be needing this anymore.

 

[Galloway rips on insignia patch off of Major Lennox’s uniform]

 

Galloway: Get your assets back to base. Take that pile of scrap metal back to Diego Garcia too. Let’s go!

 

[Major Lennox stands by USAF Master Sergeant Epps as Galloway drives away]

 

Master Sergeant Epps: I really don’t like that guy. A$$…hole.

If you haven’t watched the movie or don’t know you the characters are, click here for a list of the cast.

As I stated in my previous article, Galloway is ultimately proven wrong and the military saves the day, seemingly without the approval of the president. If that isn’t a slight against the president I really don’t know what is.

I have seen that some are afraid in the alternative energy movement that big name companies getting involved and partnering with smaller renewable energy companies will somehow corrupt or sidetrack overall the movement. With the recent partnering of Algenol and Dow Chemical, I’m sure this sentiment will be echoed somewhere.

However, at least in algae, I don’t see these kinds of partnerships as a corrupting factor. Massive amounts of funds are needed to continue algae research and sometimes these large corporations are the only ones willing to give funding. If $ = advancements, then these companies will most likely lead the pack. While the direct technological advances these partnerships produce might not be available to the entire algae field, they will at least illustrate to other companies what can be accomplished.

In the algae field, proving the economical feasibility of algae biofuel production is still the number one priority. If one of these partnerships brings this about, it will have massive benefits to the entire field.  Investors will most likely  be more willing to invest in smaller algae companies if they know what can be accomplished.

Unlike other alternative energy operations that require large tracks of land, algae fuels can be grown on the small scale level, thus hindering any large corporation from ever completely cornering the market. Therefore, no matter if a large corporation becomes the first to develop an algae fuel (while somehow tainting the environmental applications of it), other smaller, more environmentally-minded algae companies will still be able to find niche markets and flourish.

In the market that algae biofuels will be catering to, I feel that there will be room for the large corporations as well as the small companies to coexist.