Business and Old Thinking Combined

A very extraordinary test combining scientific technologies, ecological optimism and industrialist ambitiousness of Native Americans was conducted in one of American Indian communities on the southwest of Colorado. Aiming to achieve two objectives at the same time – decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and producing algae-based fuel a small venture newly founded by State University of Colorado came to a very interesting solution. They have introduced a great addition to the gas processing plants – water tanks with algae strain to capture carbon dioxide and turn it to natural fuel. The main sponsor of this experiment is the wealthiest community of Southern Utes, believing they can take the advantage of new energy boom they are predicting. The yield of this project is not the only thing this is all about. The tribe of Utes is sure that such a technology is the old views mixed with modern needs and conditions. The lands belonging to Southern Utes’ reservation are the worlds’ richest natural gas reserves, but they are not explored because of the agriculture developing here. This tribe has started to grow algae for producing fuel and it has made a great contribution into the green project, by investing millions of dollars into research and equipment, as well as allowing scientists to use their land for free. However this project has got a lot of competitors, willing to put much more money into developing a cost-effective solution of how to create biodiesel fuel from algae. This industry is only gathering pace and research still goes on. The start up founded by the Colorado state University is named Solix and it’s advancing a very creative idea of how to increase the yield by growing the algae in isolated bags, which are situated in the water tanks in vertical position. The tanks are situated near the gas processing plants and the waste stream will feed the algae with carbon dioxide to stimulate the production of the biofuel. The waste heat from the plant will keep the algae warm in the winter period. Moreover, the Solix plant is situated in the sunniest lace of Colorado and the sun rays will stimulate the growth of algae. The Solix scientists are sure they will be able to make arrangements with many gas processing plants and build their algae farms near them to receive their waste and turn it into biofuel, which the plants can sell.