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1. 

   Biodiversivist Posted 11:32 am
   02 Mar 2007

   Well, what do you know

   "Hansen proposes burning switchgrass for electrical power..."

   In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

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2. 

   GreyFlcn Posted 1:20 pm
   02 Mar 2007

   I'd actually suggest

   I'd actually suggest burning algae

   But not burning it.

   Either gasify it, and then use it inside an
   "Air Blown Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle" power plant (AB-IGCC) at 55% effeciency.  Reduces water demand by 70%
   http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/cctc/ccpi/ ...

   Or better, and cheaper,
   Use it inside a direct carbon fuel cell.
   Which is essentually a perfected form of a molten carbonate fuel cell.  The whole thing operates at 70-80% effeciency.  And doesn't even need water.
   http://eed.llnl.gov/co2/7.php
   http://web.archive.org/web/20060117160843/http://www-cms. ...
   http://web.archive.org/web/20060525160802/http://www-cms. ...

   Both technologies do emit carbon dioxide, but it's in a purified stream.  Making it ideal for sequestration on the cheap.  Or mitigation.  Likely by doing something silly for instance, growing more algae :P

   _

   The real "problem" with both these technologies is that while they both can effeciently use biomass for electricity.
   They also can effeciently use coal.  Any coal.  Including the dirt cheap high sulfur coal.

   So we can build them.
   But making sure they select a specific fuel type,
   that will be the tricky part.

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3. 

   caniscandida Posted 1:47 am
   03 Mar 2007

   the enemies of the human race

   Coal may be one of them, but is, alas, hardly the only one.

   We might include in the list Luke Popovich, spokesman for the coal industry, whose venomous Parthian shot is allowed to close the linked article.

   Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

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