Algae actually IS being used as a biofuel in research facilities. I personally believe it to be the wave of the future. Corn based ethanol doesn't provide a large energy gain since the production of corn takes lots of oil in the form of fertilizers and machinery. Algae doesn't need to compete for land with food crops, and those people with the money and the vision are already beginning to make algae based biofuels happen. There are even companies that will retrofit coal plants with algae farms, which not only can be harvested to produce biofuel, but absorb carbon dioxide emissions, which encourages algae growth and reduces greenhouse gas emission. Really what is needed for algae based biofuels is good promotion and a working business model. PetroSun has made the first algae to biofuel plant, but has not yet