America’s hope for fossil-fuel freedom includes switching some of our dependency to renewable energy such as biofuels. One of the fastest growing sources of biofuels is algae as reported previously.

Algae is naturally occurring in many oceans and bodies of water, and in some waters, so overabundant that marine environments are at risk of habitat destruction and endangerment of species. Therefore, by harvesting these overabundant supplies, biofuel producers are doing the environment a double favor saving greenhouse gas contributions and sensitive habitats.

Making algae-based biofuels for the mass market requires a constant, quickly renewing supply. To do that, researchers had to start with the basics, “what is needed to produce algae?” A little bit of sun and saline water (for most algae). Researchers are now setting up shop not near oceans or lakes, but in the desert with plenty of sun, and surprisingly, saline water (see articles from Domestic Fuels and NorthBay Biz).  Growing algae for fuel also prevents having to convert crop land to grow a biofuel, a challenge the Midwest is constantly facing.

Southwestern states that have plenty of sun but starved for water, such as the desert lands of California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas can benefit by growing algae-based biofuels. This new industry could bring much needed revenue to the lagging economies by educating a new workforce, creating jobs, generating payroll taxes, and providing opportunities to do business with other economies.

Growing algae in these states, home to some of the largest populations west of the Mississippi, could achieve additional environmental benefits to local water supplies. Fresh water is scarce in many places, and particularly in the Southwest where water is pumped in (which can be energy intensive and impact the environment) from northern and mountainous areas. By collecting wastewater in these regions and treating it to remove toxins and sludge (much like wastewater companies currently do before dumping the water or hopefully, reusing it as recycled water) a supply of water is available for algae production. The treated wastewater is somewhat saline, wastewater managers and algae producers can collaborate to expand the life cycle of water supplies while harvesting renewable energy.

The Laguna Treatment Plant in Santa Rosa, California and Sonoma State University are taking this process one step further using algae for not only biofuel production, but to also treat the wastewater. Algae is used to “scrub wastewater…by essentially ‘eating’ nutrients and harmful components while at the same time producing biomass-carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids (including DNA) and lipids (some of which are, basically vegetable oil)," according to North Bay Biz.