America’s “Yankee ingenuity” has brought us everything from the airplane to the light bulb, but can it now help us find a cheap, plentiful form of homegrown domestic energy? Perhaps so, as numerous mom and pop shops have sprung up around the country seeking to tackle just this problem. In Seattle, one small start up called Prometheus Energy just landed a contract to produce liquid natural gas at a city landfill, while in Folsom, California another called Jadoo Power has just pioneered a portable hydrogen fuel cell technology for remote satellite phones. But perhaps most intriguing is a company called LiveFuels, a small shop that recently partnered with the U.S. government to turn algae into biofuel. Thomas Edison would be proud!
Venture capitalists seek homegrown energy solutions
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This sort of seems like a nice column. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and the Wright brothers made the first practical airplane. Millions of other inventions were also created by citizens of the most creative nation ever founded. However, I don’t recall any of these inventions being partnered with the U. S. government. Prior to WWII, I don’t think the U. S. government had anything to do with promoting research or product formation.
I am on the Press Release notices from Dept. of Energy, EPA, Dept. of Interior, and Dept. of Agriculture on areas related to energy. They are providing billions for creating energy sources. Almost all of this money is being squandered on projects of no practical value. If you use the name renewable energy, this guarantees attention and most likely funds.
All projects listed in this article look like good candidates for wasting money. Landfill gas is mostly carbon dioxide. Making LNG from this is most likely far more expensive than LNG from natural gas. Is this a money maker for taxpayers? Ditto for all other projects.
When it comes to the U. S. government; be careful of wishes. They may come true.
James H. Rust, Professor of nuclear engineering