Last year, the idea that diesel fuel could be created using algae was all over the news. Unfortunately, the effort can only work on a very small scale that makes no sense, says Jonathan Marshall of PG&E.
Dozens of biotech companies were hot on the idea, but skeptics -- and a new report produced by UC Berkeley -- say that the technology won't work on a large scale.
Marshall writes, "The report estimates that with current technology, a 250-acre algae biofuels plant would need to sell its oil at $332 a barrel to break even-a price that would make even OPEC green with envy (pun intended)."
The technology isn't a complete waste, says Marshall, because it can be used for bioremediation.
Read the full story: Algae: Pond Scum or Gold?
EPA Launches School Bus Electrification Program
The agency will distribute $5 billion over the next five years to help school districts purchase electric and low-emissions buses.
Sound Transit Needs Electric Buses
King County Metro enjoys the benefit of lower fuel costs from buying electric buses. Josh Cohen argues that it's time for Sound Transit to get on board.
International Effort Needed to Prevent Recurrence of Lake Erie Algal Bloom
On Monday, August 4, half a million people in the Toledo, Ohio metro region could once again drink from their water taps after a weekend without safe drinking water due to a toxin resulting from an algal bloom in the city's water supply, Lake Erie.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge
A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion
Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority