http://www.timesonline.co.u k/tol/news/environment/arti cle4133668.ece

May be ok, but basically its just a different form of fermentation that produces a different hydrocarbon than ethanol.  You still need to produce large quantities of biological material to turn into fuel.  It is also not clear if they are to the point where they can actually work with waste materials without breaking it down with large quantities of expensive enzymes.  Capital costs look like they could be enormous as well. 

"However, to substitute America’s weekly oil consumption of 143 million barrels, you would need a facility that covered about 205 square miles, an area roughly the size of Chicago"

I don't mean to say the reasearch isn't extremely important...we need to be throwing money at every crazy idea that has even a 1% chance of producing a little bit of energy, but the scale of the problem is soooo huge its like trying to fill a swimming pool with a shot glass. 

by alphasigmookie on 06/16/2008 08:24:43 PM EST

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