While most Americans do not yet know the potential for algae-based biofuels and therefore are not very opinionated on the matter, it is not debatable that most have views and thoughts on alternative energies in general. Alternative energy is one of the many issues being debated by politicians and citizens alike right now. It seems that we are torn between the economic stresses that developing new technology for alternative fuels will bring and the environmental and international issues that go along with relying on fossil fuels. Policy makers are fighting for a fair balance that will satisfy the greatest number of voters; after all, this is the main objective of their jobs. We have seen campaigns based on the slogans, “drill, baby, drill” and of course on “going green.” Both present extreme challenges as well as rather obvious benefits.
The technology for harvesting and processing fossil fuels is already developed and oil is extremely efficient in proving a reliable source of potent energy. But, at the same time, the burning of fossil fuels has been scientifically proven to contribute greatly to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases, more specifically carbon into the atmosphere. And, since the beginning our commercial dependence on oil, we have seen other large environmental misfortunes such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and more recently the BP Gulf oil spill.
Alternative energy, more specifically algal biofuel, generally presents the opposite benefits and problems. The technology for effectively growing and processing algae to create an efficient fuel source is still undergoing relatively expensive research and development. However, many large companies such as Solix Biofuels and ExxonMobil are investing in the technology that could eventually lead to the dominant means of energy production in America. Alga’s environmental relations are generally considered to be much more positive than fossil fuels’. Algae, which are plantlike single-celled organisms, use the process of photosynthesis to grow and live. This process consumes carbon dioxide and water and releases oxygen. This consumption of carbon dioxide is somewhat offset when the burning of the oil produced by the algae takes place. Even so, the ill effects of burning alga-based biofuel are less severe than the ill effects of burning fossil fuels. Furthermore, algae are a renewable resource, if used correctly, whereas fossil fuels are not. This means that the problems we will encounter when we run out of oil will not be experienced if we rely predominantly on algae based sources of fuel.
With midterm elections nearing, politicians are fighting particularly hard to protect and gain representative positions that are influential in the construction of local and national policies. These politicians generally represent the mindsets of their districts as well as the interests of lobbyists and activists. But what do the people generally want in respect to fuel sources? It is considered that conservatives are more in favor of depending on oil until it is more economically reasonable to invest in alternatives because oil, for now, is less expensive, as it is already developed. Furthermore, conservative candidates are often more associated with oil companies than their liberal counterparts. According to thegrio.com’s post, “Oil spill leaves both political parties in the muck,” the oil industry gave $2.4 million to the McCain-Palin presidential campaign and only $900,000 to the Obama-Biden campaign. They gave more money to the conservatives in this case because they thought they would better represent their interests. But, there are many conservatives that are more concerned with well-being of the environment; hence, the alternate meaning to the word “conservative.” A prime example of this philosophy is conservative president, Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation of numerous national parks and game lands.
Liberals seem to be a bit more united in their stand against fossil fuels. Many, not all, believe in the development of alternatives rather than the reliance on the “standard.” They seem to take more of a precautionary stance, as they feel that planning for the future needs of the country in terms of energy will actually be cheaper than continuing reliance on oil.
But, regardless of political views, it seems that everyone weighs in on the scientific and academic aspects of alternative fuels. There are those that refuse to believe in global warming entirely, while others believe that humans do not contribute to the phenomenon at all. Further, there are those that believe the opposite is true; they believe global warming is a direct result of man-made and man-used materials like CFCs and fossil fuels, respectively. Some choose to believe scientific observation and theory, while some believe that this particular portion of the scientific world is based on insufficient evidence, greed for fame, and of course money-related principles.
More specifically, when dealing with algae as a real source of significant power supply, some citizens believe we are not ready for such advancement for logistical and monetary purposes while others believe such a shift is long past due. Those fighting for alternatives to oil, like algae, argue that the development of such a large industry could only create more jobs, thus “killing two birds with one stone.” While those in opposition to the energy reformation say that our economy is already unstable enough; we should let it recover fully before investing such time and resources into something we are still unsure of. There are always skeptics that believe “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” While this phrase may certainly be the case for many issues, algal biofuel can only help us in decreasing our reliance on oil from foreign countries and slow our continuing pollution of the atmosphere and environment. Regardless of political affiliation, scientific belief, or personal values, substitute forms of energy are inevitable. With the benefits algae can provide, and the relatively few disadvantages, it is likely that our lives will soon be fueled not by the oil beneath our feet, but by the algae in our ponds.
