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WEEKLY GRASS IN REVIEW -- May 7, 2008

Glen Kertz Sees Green By Paul Jacob For 18 years, the U.S. government studied algae as a source for biofuel, giving up over a decade ago because managing pond scum was just too hard. Ah, but algae is just too efficient a source of oil to let it fizzle. Plant physiologist and multiple patent holder Glen Kertz has figured out a way to manage algae growth and harvest. Forget ponds. Place the algae in plastic bags and line them up vertically. Like corn, I guess. Except that corn is amazingly inefficient at producing biofuel. Yeah, the government is subsidizing ethanol grown from corn. But farmers only get 20 gallons of fuel per acre per year. Kertz estimates 100,000 gallons per year from his method, which he calls Vertigro. Vertical rows of algae-and-water bags move on conveyor belts to maximize sunlight. And, if this research pans out, it won’t be just algae moving, it will be Kertz’s own wealth moving upwards. The project is a joint venture with Global Green Solutions, a Canadian alternative energy company. They’ve invested about $5 million in a Texas facility, where right now they’re trying to figure out which kind of algae makes which kind of biofuel best. Now our government is getting involved in algae research, again. But we’ve dumped so much money into scummy ponds, and on almost certain failures like corn ethanol, that at this point subsidy seems a waste. Paul Jacob is a member of the GRIH Board of Advisors and is Senior Advisor at the Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation.

IN THE NEWS - HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTARIES Grassroot Institute is regularly featured in news articles and broadcasts around the state. Here is a sample of some of our recent articles, research stories, and other articles of interest. Time for Second Thoughts on the Ethanol Mandate By Ben Lieberman America's energy policy has been on an ethanol binge, and now the hangover has begun. The federal renewable fuels mandate is an unfolding failure, and more Members of Congress are taking notice. If repeal of the mandate is not yet possible, Congress should at least freeze ethanol use at current levels while the nation reassesses its renewable fuels policy. (To read more, click here.) Time to Drill for American Oil By Michael R. Fox, Ph.D. Congress is failing to deal squarely with the problem of escalating oil prices. Given the increase in world oil demand and the virtual lack of surplus production capacity, a fundamental change in our nation’s energy policy is needed. Instead of refusing to allow drilling for oil and natural gas on what it considers environmentally sensitive federal lands and coastal waters, Congress should open them up. Shutting away areas that hold a large part of the estimated 112 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 656 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the United States is a luxury we can no longer afford, not when federal policy constrains energy production and contributes to rising energy costs for the American consumer. (To read more, click here.) UPCOMING EVENTS All of the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are available on our website. 1. Luncheon with Mark Skousen "To Invite Prosperity: What Should a State Constitution Say and Not Say" Wednesday, May 28th, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Mark Skousen -- professional economist, investment expert, university professor and author of over 25 books -- will be our guest on May 28. Held in the Pacific Club Card Room, the deli luncheon buffet requires advance registration and payment ($25). Please send checks made out to GRIH to the office address or call (808)591-9193 to charge the fee. Click here for more information about Mark Skousen. 2. The Small Business Hawaii Economic Summit will be held on Tuesday, May 13th, from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM at The Kahala Hotel. Speakers include Dr. John Rutledge, Senator Sam Slom, Dr. Paul Brewbaker and Lowell Kalapa. The $50 cost includes a buffet lunch, and parking is an additional $5. Call (808)396-1724 to register or for more information. 3. The 2008 Preserving the American Dream conference: "Preserving Freedom and Mobility" May 16-18, 2008 in Houston, TX GRIH will be co-sponsoring the sixth annual Preserving the American Dream Conference in Houston (Omni Hotel near Galleria District) on May 16-18, 2008. Registration is $249 regular or $175 student and low-income. There is an optional lunch and tour of Houston on Friday the 16th (8:30 am – 4:30 pm) for $25. Last year’s attendees really enjoyed the tour of San Jose. For more information or to register, please visit the American Dream Coalition website. HONOLULUTRAFFIC.COM The mission of HonoluluTraffic.com is to seek cost effective ways to reduce traffic congestion on Oahu. Add your name to the list of supporters. STOPRAILNOW.COM The goal of Stop Rail Now is to collect the nearly 45,000 signatures necessary to put on the ballot: "Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail transit." Go to the website to sign up or download a petition, due back July 10th. FRESH PERSPECTIVE Opportunity for Young Adults: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter.  Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here. Contact:  wendy@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

TRY OUR BLOGS Use these links to access various topics. Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Paying her for what? Dash of Calabash>>>Blog Archives>>>Oh Oh! The Mystery of Hawaiian History>>>Blog Archives>>>International Recognition of Republic of Hawaii Discredits Apology Resolution and Undermines Akaka Bill Read what others have written or add your own thoughts by clicking here. LIBERTY NETWORK GRIH Board Member Dale Evans had an article published in Hawaii Reporter on May 1, 2008: "State Needs to Deal With Economic Problems Before Businesses Shut Down - Afterward is Too Late." GRIH Board Member Cliff Slater had an opinion piece published in the StarBulletin on Saturday, May 3rd (“City glossed over truth about cost of HOT lanes”) that was also published in Hawaii Reporter on May 5, 2008: “City Deceives Public on Real Cost of HOT Lanes.” Board Members Dale Evans and Cliff Slater were mentioned May 5, 2008 on KSSK's Perry and Price morning show as being leaders in the movement against rail transit for Honolulu. Townhall.com, a conservative web community of which the GRIH is a silver partner, recently picked up a Dash of Calabash blog item, “China ‘now top carbon polluter’” (4/15/08); a Mystery of Hawaiian History blog item, “International Recognition of Republic of Hawaii discredits Apology Resolution and Undermines Akaka Bill – See Photos and Analysis” (4/12/08); and Gabriel Roth’s message in the April 16 Grass in Review, “Save Money and Time With Busways, Toll Lanes.” An important new website has made its debut! The founders of HawaiiConCon.org say it is a grassroots community effort to engage the public in a discussion about the Hawaii Constitutional Convention. (This election, the public will decide whether or not to hold a constitutional convention before 2010 – no concon has been held for the last 30 years.) Visit the site for more information. Also see the editorial by former Hawaii Congressman Ed Case that appeared in Hawaii Reporter on April 20, 2008: “This Hawaii Election, To ConCon or Not To ConCon.” How fast does the state spend your money? State spending is out of control.  Watch the dollars fly out the window..... Have an Institute speaker at your next meeting! From taxation to education and health care to transportation, the Institute’s staff is excited to address your group regarding the important policy issues facing all citizens of Hawaii. Call (808) 591-9193 to check availability and make arrangements, or e-mail us at grassroot001@hawaii.rr.com.

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CRABGRASS

450 pounds of corn--enough to feed a person for a year--are required to produce enough ethanol to fill one SUV's gas tank.
(Source: Economist Walter E. Williams)

An estimated 30% of America’s corn crop now goes to fuel, not food.
(Source: New York Sun)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"We feel that the developed countries should seriously rethink the whole issue of biofuel, particularly the biofuel subsidies. Giving subsidies for biofuels ... basically acts as an implicit tax on staple foods."
--- Asian Development Bank Director General Rajat Nag

“They think they can make fuel from horse manure - now, I don't know if your car will be able to get 30 miles to the gallon, but it's sure gonna put a stop to siphoning.”
--- Jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915-1959)

The Philosophy of Liberty

(Flash Presentation)