CABC, led by the University of California will focus on developing algae as a hearty biofuel feedstock. Most of their assignment will include the following:

• Investigating new ways to protect algae crops from contamination and predation
• Algal Nutrient usage and recycling
• Developing genetic tools

They will be working closely with seven companies including Sapphire Energy, General Atomics, and Sempra Energy, who are also providing three million to finance research and development.
SABC, led by Arizona State University, will pay close attention to testing acceptability of these new biofuels as substitutes for petroleum based fuels. Some of their duties will be to:

• Investigate biochemical conversion of algae to fuels
• Analyze properties of algal fuels and intermediates

Lastly, Cellana, led by Cellana (Shell and HR BioPetroleum) will look at large scale production of feed and fuels from microalgae matured in seawater. Their tasks will include the following:

• The assimilation of new harvest technologies with “pilot-scale cultivation test beds”
• Development of marine microalgae as animal nourishment for the industry of aquaculture

CABC will receive approximately nine million from the DOE, while SABC and Cellana will get the remaining fifteen. Funding for such research began back during the Jimmy Carter period, where the former president invested nearly twenty five million into algae fuel research. Funding and research was shelved momentarily during the Clinton Administration, but has since returned, with many fortune 500 (i.e. – Exon Mobile) pouring money into R&D.

Despite the hault in algae fuel funding, Former President Clinton along with close confidant Doug Band, continues to invest into reducing the U.S. carbon footprint. With alternative energy efforts like this, and that of the Fed and Exon, we’re still on track towards optimum sustainability.

Jack Lundee – “Follower of all things green and progressive”

Why is it taking so long to Cap the oil spill?  Simply put, it’s in over a mile deep water.  You can’t send a mission of divers down there to simply cap it.  You have to have some strategy to cap it.  They are bringing in an oil containment dome to try to cap the oil spill.  It is extremely heavy, and will be dropped from above the oil spill to hopefully cap the spill.  You can see how the dome is supposed to work at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIPYlK08gnI

Obama’s stance.  Well, as he stated today, it’s time to roll back “billions of dollars in tax breaks and use the money for clean energy research and development.  Now the reason I mentioned that I was a conservative earlier is to give you a framework of where I’m coming from.  I don’t agree with democrats on many issues, but this is one issue I definitely agree on.  We have to stop our reliance on fossil fuels, otherwise accidents like this will continue to happen.  Plus, the US will not be a super power in the future if we are not on the forefront of these new alternative technologies.  It is very important that we start going into the direction of alternative energies now, or suffer the consequences later.  We have a plethora of alternative energies waiting to be explored, if we just take the step to research them (natural gas, nuclear power, wind farming, solar power, geothermal, etc).

Hurricane season.  As we all know down in the gulf of Mexico area, Hurricane season is quickly approaching.  What’s worse, is that this is supposed to be a bad year for Hurricanes.  Now, that remains to be seen, but regardless, at least 2 or 3 will enter the Gulf of Mexico region.  Well, there is good news and bad news.  Weather can disburse the oil slick and make the damages lessened.  However, some of the oil slick will likely follow the hurricane to shore which could be an environmental disaster for wherever it makes landfall.  Not to mention, if they don’t get this capped before the first hurricane comes through, then this could be a mess for a long time.

In conclusion, if we don’t start converting to alternative energies, we will just have to live with the fact that we’ll be dependent on other countries for oil, we’ll have to live with oil disasters off our coasts, and we just won’t advance technologically as a country.  So, it’s our duty to start heading in the direction of cleaner, safer alternative energy technologies.

Here are a couple of other cool weblinks to track the oil spill and progress:

http://oilspill.skytruth.org/

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/view_live_video_feed_of_bp_gul.html

After 11 long years of waiting finally my husband and I had a baby on the way. Since, we had waited so long there was no question for us that I would be resigning my position and staying home. However, we knew that in a world where having a dual income is almost a necessity we would have to make a few sacrifices in order to live on one income. One of the decisions we made was to use cloth diapers rather than disposable.

Average Cost of Disposable Diapers

After much research I located some general statistics on the cost of cloth diapers compared to disposable. The statistics I found said that on average disposable diapers cost $50-$89 per month totaling $600-$1068 per year. I am just beginning to potty train and my daughter is almost two. That means by now we would have spent $2000 in diapers. Now keep in mind that even though I am potty training my daughter I will still be using diapers during nap time and at night. Also, I am potty training a little young. On average most people potty-train girls at 21/2 and boys at 31/2. So depending on your particular situation disposable diapers will most likely cost more than $2000.

Total Outlay for Cloth Diapers

Now let’s take a look at cloth diapers. Just like anything there is a wide range of cloth diapers. You can get something that meets your needs or you can spring for the Cadillac of cloth diapers. I have personally used four styles of cloth diapers: Flats, Pockets, AIO (All In One) and 7+ different brands. These brands include Daisy Doodles, Fuzzi Bunz, Tail End Designs, Knicker Nappies, Snap-EZ Eco, Thirsties and Bummis just to name a few. My total cost for cloth diapers has totaled $700. I have a mix of new and second hand diapers for this cost. Not only have I saved but I am giving my stash of cloth diapers to a close friend of mine who is using them for her children. She will save much more than I did because she has no cost at all for diapers. That is the great thing about cloth diapers they are so durable and last forever. I could easily have used my stash of diapers on three children of my own if I planned on having that many.

Cloth Wipes Cost

In addition to this savings I also had to use cloth wipes because my daughter was allergic to both disposable diapers and disposable wipes. I went to my local Hancock’s Fabric store and picked up a yard or two of terry cloth. Along with my mother-in-laws help and use of her Bernina Serger we made 40-50 wipes. My total outlay for the wipes was fifteen dollars. I have used these wipes and they along with the diapers have paid for themselves over and over again. My guestament of the cost of disposable wipes is $10/month X 12 months X 2 years = $240.  

http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm

Now I have told you about my personal savings by using cloth diapers however the environmental savings far exceeds my personal savings. Any effort that will go towards preserving the environment for your children is priceless. This saves landfill space due to less diapers and wipes being thrown away.  Now, if we all did something like this, it would reduce landfills exponentially, plus save us some money in the process.  For more information on environmental as well as potential tax savings http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php