Grin, while working away on the third segment about Abqaiq I noticed that the cellulosic ethanol post was getting a fair few comments on the use of algae. Having been directed to a recent radio talk on the subject, with a slightly different twist, I thought I would pass it on. It is here, under the 7/21/06 transmission date. (Sorry I am not technically literate enough to give the actual audio stream or podcast URL).

With a postulated 2+ barrels/acre/day of product (if I do the arithmetic right) even if the acres are "special" makes it sound as though it might be a somewhat intriguing approach.

UPDATE: Well I guess I hadn't better laugh about this, but what the broadcast was about related to the benefits of growing the algae in the unused sections of old mines, and in cross-cuts, where the climate can be easily controlled, and the infrastructure (walls, roof etc) are already in place. It resolves some of the issues that were a problem in New Mexico, and allows the use of the third dimension (height) in the creation of the reactors - hence the high level of productivity, and it does not conflict with land-use requirements, etc etc. Ah, well!