Posted on 03/20/2008 3:35:26 AM PDT by Neville72
A Tifton agricultural researcher says he has found the solution to the world’s energy crisis through genetic modification and cloning of bacterial organisms that can convert bio-mass into hydrocarbons on a grand scale. The local researcher believes his groundbreaking discovery could result in the production of 500 to 1,000 barrels of hydrocarbon fuel per day from the initial production facility. The hydrocarbon fuel — commonly known as oil or fossil fuel when drilled — will require no modification to automobiles, oil pipelines or refineries as they exist today and could forever end the United States’ dependence on foreign oil, he said.
J.C. Bell, who brought the world powdered peanut butter, has spent the last four years, identifying the bacteria that produces hydrocarbon and then finding a way to genetically alter it so that it could produce hydrocarbon in greater volume.
Bell cited a USDA study that projected it was possible to produce two billion tons of bio-mass that could be converted to hydrocarbon with some modification to agriculture and forestry practices.
Pamela Serino, Chief of the Department of Defense Energy Support Center at Fort Belvoir, Va., said she was very excited about Bell’s technology. “The DOD Energy Support Center is the energy purchasing arm of the defense logistics agency,” Serino said. She said she became acquainted with Bell when he met with a senator about his hydrocarbon research. “We give support to the Hill,” she said. “When he was briefing the senator, we were there to see if his technology was viable.” Serino said her job was to question the science behind the technology. “It looks good to me,” she said.
Serino said she envisions a near future where “we have multiple regional energy sources.” She said the growth in China and India makes the work in bio-energy more critical.
Now that his discoveries have been patented, his corporation formed — Bell Bio-Energy, Inc. — and his government communications established, Bell announced his discoveries to the local press on Friday morning.
“I have received a tremendous amount of support from the state and federal government,” Bell said. “I could not have gotten this far without the help of (U.S. Sen.) Saxby Chambliss, (U.S. Sen.) Johnny Isakson, (Rep.) Jim Marshall, (Rep.) Jack Kingston and Floyd Gabler, the deputy undersecretary of the USDA.” He said, “They have opened doors for me at the Department of Defense and the EPA and EPD.”
Bell said he never considered ethanol for his research. “He who burns his food goes hungry,” Bell said. “That’s an old Chinese proverb.” Instead he concentrated on bio-mass and hydrocarbons. “If it grows it’s bio-mass,” Bell said. Bio-mass is any living or recently dead biological material. Hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Decomposed organic matter provides an abundance of carbon and hydrogen and is naturally occurring in crude oil.
Sources for bio-mass to be converted to hydrocarbon fuel are the forestry industry, pulp plants, agriculture and waste derived from the construction and demolition industry.
“This is the ultimate recycling,” Bell said. “Environmentalists should rejoice. We are only using waste products.” Bell said his company would take all of the waste of the plants: The tree limbs and tree tops, husks and cob of the corn, wheat stubble and corn stover.
Bell said that with ethanol, “The United Stated would have to totally rebuild our infrastructure.” He said, “We wanted to make hydrocarbon that could immediately be pumped.”
Bell said the original idea came from observing cows expel gas. “That is natural gas,” Bell said. “Cows release methane gas.” He said the gas is created by bacteria in the cow’s rumen or stomach. “These bacterial organisms are responsible for biological conversion of bio-mass into hydrocarbons,” he said.
With his research complete, Bell is in the process of building his pilot plants and production facilities. At the pilot plants, the bio-mass will be tested to select bacterial strains, bacterial genetic modification will be tested, revision of production protocols will be established, and a determination will be made of the best method of bio-mass conversion.
“We are exploring several locations for our pilot plants and production facilities,” Bell said. “We have the opportunity to put our plants in several locations.”
He estimated the budget for the research facility to be at $60 million annually and the production facilities at $250 to $300 million a year. He anticipates being in full scale production by October 1, 2009.
“Wherever this is located, the community will reap tremendous economic benefit,” he said.
Bell cites a number of benefits of bio-mass conversion: The energy shortage issue can be effectively addressed, it is a totally renewable energy source, it calms global warming fears, utilizes industrial waste and supports the agriculture industry.
“We can reduce the waste stream by 70 percent,” he said.
For more information e-mail questions to marketing@bellplantation.com.
To contact reporter Jana Cone, call 382-4321, ext. 208.
Why? They buy oil, expend lots of money finding and drilling for it, and they do still need to refine this bio-mass derived oilh, they won't go out of business, and they're smart enough, or should be anyway, to know that political realities and the public anger at high gas prices will cause the people to hang them if they try to quash such things.
“I think Mr. Bell’s bacteria farm is located in a tunnel next to his perpetual motion machine.”
I can say with virtual certainty that Mr Bell is at best mistaken, or at worst, a fraud and huckster. This is the bio-energy equivalent of Cold Fusion.
I wish well this invention if only to reduce landfill waste. However, this is still hydrocarbon fuel. Our energy issue in not lack of resources, it is lack of production. Environmental wackos will fight this because it still burns carbon.
True; however, the government is against plug ins because electrical generation capacity. Californika can't produce enough electricity for air conditioners which cost LIVES, you think the government want dead old people in hot houses while people are plugging in their cars?
(PHEV)which is basically an electric car with combustion engine back-up, yet no car manufacturer dares to produce one (you can buy a conversion kit though making your hybrid into a PHEV).
A little off basis. Current Hybrid are parallel systems in which the gas and electric work in unison. Series system like the Chevy Volt are as how you describe. The problem is battery technology. Lithium Ion batteries are still in development for large size motors. No car manufacturer dares to produce a PHEV cause they all are all in bed with oil companies.
Wrong, GM has said that its electric platform is the future of the company.
Investors get snowed in, not understanding the reality, but “impressed” with perpetuum mobile or whatever.
Seen this in the miraculous antenna design field, claims of science being wrong or stooopid for years, ...now here it is miracle (for HD TV reception, etc.)
Yea! just us oldtimers who have actually plowed a row or two behind one of these gas passers.
“I can say with virtual certainty that Mr Bell is at best mistaken, or at worst, a fraud and huckster. This is the bio-energy equivalent of Cold Fusion.”
You know, if this turns out to be true, his simple observation about methane production in the gut of cattle is on a par with Alexander Fleming’s observation that the Penicillium mold contaminating his bacterial culture plates was inhibiting the bacterial growth. I would have looked at the plates and said, what’s this cr@p?” And then, I would have tossed them out.
Don’t be so quick to dismiss this: who would have predicted in the 1930’s that within 10-15 years we would be setting up huge fermentation vats on an industrial scale to produce life-saving drugs called “antibiotics”?
In fact, the biotechnology has been established for 50 years - waiting for the right combination of observation, inspiration, and need.
As Pasteur said: “In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.”
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Prototype: Tokyo Test Drive
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4227944.html
What will government do without collecting the taxes imposed on gasoline? I suspect we will pay those taxes in other forms.
Government makes a lot more money on the oil industry than the typical oil company does.
Who pissed in your cereal this morning dickweed.
Sudetenland is a bit full of himself, I read is page, he offers more derogatory than useful information in his prose.
That would be the about the same number of FReepers that know the word "grits" is a three syllable word.
I only denegrate fools who spread idiotic lies which would better be expressed on sites like DU and Liberals who live their lives in a fantasy world. Which are you?
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss this: who would have predicted in the 1930’s that within 10-15 years we would be setting up huge fermentation vats on an industrial scale to produce life-saving drugs called “antibiotics”?”
My opinion of the technology was based on 30 years of industrial research experience in molecular genetics and microbiology. I have done a technical evaluation of the biofuels state of the art and know what is technically possible and what is practical. I can tell you the claims being made for this technology are utterly ridiculous.
Hey, it could happen...
You're not suggesting that we use the bacteria to "devolve" the thugs into oil are you?
</false alarm>
Funny isn’t it? Something wonderful happens in a free socity, when the price of oil hits 100$ people start scrambling all over to find alternative fuel sources...
Unless the Carter years.
BTW Obama, Hillary and the dems in general think price controls and taxing oil companies is the way to solve the energy crisis in the world.
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