"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"George.com" wrote:

Interesting pod cast about renewable energy forms, especially algae grown
on
sewerage waste converted to bio-diesel.

http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn..._fuels-048.mp3

Now, here's a real challenge. How does Cargill and ADM get Congress to
subsidize sewage scum? Will it be as successful at making people sick as
high fructose con syrup (type 2 diabetes), hydrogenated vegetable oil
(cardiovascular disease), or, perhaps, Monsanto's organophosphates
which slow metabolism?

What's that? Do I hear some innocent saying that oil from sewage scum
won't be used for food? Uh-huh.

Why would oil from sewerage be used as food? The algae grown on sewer ponds
could be used for bio-fuels which strikes me as a perfect win-win. We farm
already intensive land (sewerage ponds) to produce a crop (algae) that can
be used to create fuel AND we clean up the water. No sure of the costs
involved but it makes some sense to me. Existing bio-fuel production
involves using food to produce fuel, or food growing land to produce fuel
crops, or rainforest to grow fuel crops. This in itself creates problems,
never mind looking at the energy wasted to turn the likes of corn into fuel,
the impacts on famers in developing countries on the harvesting of fuel
crops, the potential loss of habitat, bio-diversity, potential damage to
soils & water ways etc etc. I like the idea that every time I have a dump I
could drive a kilometre on the by-product.

Billy

Bush & Cheney, Behind Bar

agreed. Why the hell give away $100 billion in tax credits to try and prop
up your economy? To my mind that money would be better spent on
infrastructure investment. Spend it on fixing your roads, bridges, power
grid etc. From what I understand the US infrastructure needs a fair bit of
attention. Not only do you get a tangible result at the end but the extra
spending will stimulate economic activity. The money going through companies
and wage packets can be taxed and the flow on effects will help hold up
aggregate demand.

rob