TRYING TO TURN SALTON SEA ALGAE INTO FUEL

Sandia National Laboratories is testing whether one of California’s largest and most polluted lakes can transform into one of its most productive and profitable. The 350-square-mile Salton Sea has well-documented problems related to agricultural runoff. Algae thrives in the Salton Sea—a fact that causes environmental problems but could also be a solution to those problems. Managing editor Tami Roleff explains…

Sandia National Laboratories intends to harness algae’s penchant for prolific growth to clean up the Salton Sea’s elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus and stop harmful algae blooms while creating a renewable, domestic source of fuel. Sandia is testing a new method of farming algae—which can double in size every day—in which water flows in free-standing gutters, and algae consumes the nitrogen and phosphorus, and clean water ends up back in the Salton Sea. The algae is harvested from the gutters, and using various mechanical and chemical means, is converted into fuel that can eventually power cars, airplanes, and trains.