Hope against hope...

Nightshade · Post by **Nightshade** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:47 pm

Alternative cheap energy sources have been illusive at best but odder things have turned out to be true.

\"Ten years ago I could never have imagined I'd be doing this,\" says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. \"I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to — especially the ones coming out of business school — this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.\"

He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs — very, very small bacteria — so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as wood chips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Pal holds up a small beaker of bug excretion that could, theoretically, be poured into the tank of the giant Lexus SUV next to us.

Not that Pal is willing to risk it just yet. He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up on what he calls \"renewable petroleum.\" After that, he grins, \"it's a brave new world.\"

Pal is a senior director of LS9, one of several companies in or near Silicon Valley that have spurned traditional high-tech activities such as software and networking and embarked instead on an extraordinary race to make $140-a-barrel oil from Saudi Arabia obsolete.

\"All of us here — everyone in this company and in this industry — are aware of the urgency,\" Pal says.

Energy independence would clear things up and keep us out of the middle east. Here's hoping against hope.

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:48 pm

That guy needs to keep a sharp eye out for black helicopters flown by Exxon mercenaries!!

The idea of a relatively instantly available alternative fuel that will work in existing engines is beyond anyones wildest dreams! If it turns out to be for real I expect all sorts of devils trying to get into the details...

Ferno · Post by **Ferno** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:49 pm

ok you're almost there... now we just need a link.

Foil · Post by **Foil** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:25 am

I haven't heard of this one before... yes, a link would be great.

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:15 am

linkage

I hope they find a good anti-bacterial spray before they go into production, I'd hate to have this stuff get loose and eat the world!!!