Algae & the end to fossil fuels

Published 4:46 pm Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Can human society kick its addiction to fossil fuels?

Dr. Chuck Greene believe it can, and that algae is the ticket that can help snap that habit.

The director of Ocean Resources and Ecosystems Program at Cornell University and a part-time San Juan Island resident, Dr. Greene will present and talk about his ambitious plan to transform the mechanics of modern society through algal bio-energy Thursday, June 11, at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor, beginning at 7 p.m.

The  event is sponsored by Islands Energy, a local coalition striving to increase energy efficiency and conservation, and to promote the use of renewable energy. Islands Energy is led by the San Juan Islands Conservation District, in partnership with Orcas Power & Light Cooperative.

Greene’s research ranges from dynamics of marine animal populations to the effects of global climate change on ocean ecosystems. More recently, he  led an international consortium of universities and other organizations conducting algal bio-energy research to help develop pathways for transitioning from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources.

Along with this energy transformation, Greene’s plan integrates technologies that reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere while at the same time enhancing global food security.

For more information, visit sanjuanislandscd.org