[ovrtaxt]

He said 1/10th of NM using the open pond system- the vertical system would be much less.

But so what, we have some greenhouses dotted all over the country and local oil is produced and refined in a decentralized manner. Better than having only one or two massive refineries that make great terrorist targets.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[count-your-change]

On the video I saw at their web page he actually distinguish but since he had already cited ponds I'll assume the speaker was talking about the Valcent system.
No matter, even one tenth would be 12,000 square miles.
All of L.A. county is about 4000 square miles.
By no stretch of the imagination would even 1%, 1200 square miles, be covered with bags of algae and tubing. And remember this is a warm state only project.
Not a plan that will ever be more than a plan.