How do you know? If it turns out to be, will you promise to only use oil-based power?

Well, you need to extract the algae oil and then process it into fuel. So, No1 would be fine under your guidelines since algae is still oil-based power.

"so he is touting something that really won't be a major source of energy. maybe 1 or 2%? "

That has nothing to do with your initial statement that implied the US was looking to corner the algae market.

"how much should taxpayers be on the hook this time?"

As little as is feasibly possible, like any other new technology.

"how many solyndras do we have to see go bust before we realize govt doesn't know how to pick winners in the market?"

How many more successful wind farms does there need to be before you admit that sometimes they can?

I didn't realize that you needed to fra ck to build a pipeline unless those bolts are 2 miles long. Do you not know that the oil would be coming from Canada?

There's a lot less product going through small pipelines than most people realize.

Also, why add to the problem?

So you are okay with oil being run over the aquifer afterall. Go figure.

You do realize that there are hundreds of miles of pipeline that already run over that area.

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its not about reality,its politics.

So you're saying we should ignore it until we really need it, and then not have it?

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its unproven technology. lets not jump in with both feet just yet. I won't mind if we spend a million or two researching,but with obama he wants to build plants like solyndra on pie in the sky ideas and later we are left holding the bag for billions of dollars wasted. can't we at least slow it down and not jump at every crazy idea till it shows signs its viable? is that really asking too much?

You are fracking scarry, truck. Those eathquakes in SoDak are pretty bad this time of year, good reason to sue and stop the Ohio oil work. Thank goodness people like you have spread the word!

Back to your roots, Mr. President. After all, who can better identify with Pond <Scum than you? And it's green! NO mention of the $2B gift to Brazil for them to develope the deep water oil field as BO's signature energy policy.

That has nothing to do with your initial statement that implied the US was looking to corner the algae market.

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i was posting what charles krauthammer was poking fun at obama for another hair brained idea. he goes around now talking of algae. you would think after solyndra people would be on to this stuff.

You could bring back the stanley steamer too, you know the first car.

No, I'm not comfortable with it at all. Again, why add to the problem?

You know you that fracking is how natural gas is extracted, right? Maybe pay a little more attention to the post you are responding to next time.

"its unproven technology. lets not jump in with both feet just yet."

No one's saying to jump in with both feet. Just to explore what might be possible.

" obama he wants to build plants like solyndra on pie in the sky ideas and later we are left holding the bag for billions of dollars wasted"

Not true. No such suggestions were made. No such ideas were expressed.

See Doc, this is my complaint with you. You dive into everything like a rabid dog and make Limbaughian assumptions that only blow up in your face.

What ya gonna do, algae comes to mind. Another slimey idea to avoid drilling on Federal lands.
So you aren't saying this speech wasn't policy, just a few great ideas to avoid blame?

Please, next time you reply to me, get sober first.

So we've been fracking for the past 100 years? No way! No, fracking is a new development to extract natural gas that was once not obtainable. There is plenty of natural gas that is still acquired through conventional means.

Algae energy is a very sobering idea. No wonder you are amazed at how simple it is to avoid drilling to solve problems of costs. Just hit $3.79/gal today in Cincy, while your 8" snowfall is covering up natures energy in the Chicago wetlands. Keep on shoveling, truckster.

See Doc, this is my complaint with you. You dive into everything like a rabid dog and make Limbaughian assumptions that only blow up in your face.
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right,my worry that we would just dive into solar energy before its ready and get messes like solyndra was just silly.

So, do you think the idea is stupid, or that supporting the idea is stupid? Or supporting ANY alternate fuel sources?

The algae biofuel concept is not new, and its a source with a lot of potential. Especially that it doesn't need fresh water to be produced like pretty much all other biofuel sources. It's not commercially viable now, but that's where the investment in development comes in.

I would also like to add that president Bush was a big supporter of biofuel development, so the whole "This makes obama crazy!!!" argument doesn't really work.

"We could go the Bush league route and deplete the natural resources like water and use excessive energy and give huge money to ethanol plants that are closing down left and right. Ethanol is one of the worst ideas this country has implemented in a long time. It has raised the cost of shipping, grain goods and just about every food staple out there."

That's the appeal of algae, it can be produced with waste water, and it isn't used as a food source very often.