He and engineers from the school are using a strain of Missouri native algae because it sinks to the bottom of the pool rather than floating, creating a more proficient way to extract the oil from the algae. This helps the coal plant's mission to decrease harmful toxins in the air.

Dr. Summers, Curator's Professor of Mining Engineering is working in the mines of Missouri near Rolla to cultivate algae. He and engineers are using LED lighting to speed the growth of the algae.

He finds mines are a preferred location because it solves initial investment problem, it could be the answer to the "food or fuel" debate and gives a constant ideal growing temperature. Dr. Summer sees the project as a group effort involving many people, including mining engineers, electrical engineers, petroleum engineers, biological scientists, chemical engineers and students.

Dr. Sayre, Director of the Enterprise Rent A Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is working with algae as well. Essentially, he is "milking algae" of its oil without killing the algae so the algae can continue to reproduce rapidly and create more oil.

Dr. Robert E. Blankenship is directing Washington University's research to discover different ways to cultivate algae in a cost-efficient way and use different strains for algae for different uses; jet fuel, biodiesel and possible solar energy.

Algae is noted as the most promising source of renewable energy. Missouri recently received $35 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund research on novel energy initiatives at Washington University's Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center and the Advanced Biofuel Systems at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

A steady stream of the sun's rays is needed to produce large amounts of algae. Researchers are looking for areas where they can have access to water, fertilizer and flat land. All three are abundant in Missouri, making the state the Midwest hub for algae-to-fuel production.

Researchers in Chamois, Mo., are working at a coal-fired plant and using the algae to remove carbon dioxide emissions from the plant's smokestack. Missouri is recycling carbon dioxide and turning it into algae, which is used for fuel.

Algae not only helps remove carbon dioxide from the air, it also helps coal-producing companies find cheaper alternatives to become emission-free. By floating in nearby pond pools, algae will help coal-producing companies in Missouri stay afloat while also creating jobs in rural areas.

Algae is attractive to Missouri researchers because it can be created in different ways. One way is in the coalmines. Algae is vulnerable to being swamped by domestic species, so researchers are turning to the mines. Because algae feeds off carbon dioxide, underground coalmines serve as the perfect incubators and maintain a constant temperature for growth.

In addition to algae saving jobs in the coal industry, jobs in green technology will also be created from Missouri's fuel-producing plant. Recently the Natural Resources Defense Council stated, "Within Missouri's borders are vast resources of wind, land, and water - all the ingredients needed for Missouri to become a national leader in new energy development, creating tens of thousands of good jobs and substantial new sources of income for farmers."

Researchers are looking to Missouri for algae cultivation because of the state's experienced and educated workforce. The algae projects are a group effort involving many people, including mining engineers, electrical engineers, petroleum engineers, biological scientists, chemical engineers and students. Growing algae brings people and opportunities together, all of which Missouri provides.

Missouri makes a perfect place for fuel-produced algae because one of the world's biggest gas-guzzlers is the U.S. military. The military spends $12 billion on fuel annually. In addition, Missouri researchers are altering the algae for jet fuel. Boeing, a Missouri-based manufacturer and the world's leading aerospace company, designs jetliners and aircrafts that will use the fuel.

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