There’s a recently developed concept at Los Alamos National Labs that would extract that villainous pollutant, carbon dioxide (CO2), from the air, and transform it into gasoline.

Here’s the skinny, taken from a recent New York Times article: “The idea is simple. Air would be blown over a liquid solution of potassium carbonate, which would absorb the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be extracted and subjected to chemical reactions that would turn it into fuel: methanol, gasoline or jet fuel.” CO2 produced from the utilized fuel could be recycled back into more fuel.

Sounds a little abracadabra-ish to me. And to some extent,it is. Even though the concept, called Green Freedom, utilizes current proven technologies, the amount of energy required to perform this CO2 conversion is currently prohibitive. “To deal with that problem, the Los Alamos scientists say they have developed a number of innovations, including a new electrochemical process for detaching the carbon dioxide after it has been absorbed into the potassium carbonate solution. “(NY Times). These innovations will need to be further developed.

And, surprise surprise, the government is fully funding the project. With the price of oil topping $105 dollars a barrel, and the U.S. economy spiraling out of control, the previously oil embracing cohorts in Washington are finally ready to switch gears and seriously examine alternative energies. If global warming won’t do it, hitting them where it hurts, in their well-lined purses, will.

Whatever the motivation, it’s a good transition. In 50 years, we could be recycling our gasoline.

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