Bio Jet Fuel... or, Goodbye Holland

I just read on Slashdot that Boeing is pursuing the development of a new biofuel, produced by algae on sewage treatment ponds, to provide a new stable, environmentally friendly source of jet fuel. If successful, this would not only reduce the carbon footprint of aviation but also hedge against their most volatile expense: petroleum derived jet fuel, the importance of which is clearly illustrated by the importance of per-seat fuel cost in driving the development of the A380 superjumbo and the 787 Dreamliner. The environmental benefits are a bit overstated, since biofuel won't help contrail formation, and cheap fuel encourages more flights and more contrails, but it's nevertheless an intriguing proposal.

The first question that has to be asked is whether this would be scalable to provide fuel for the entire aviation industry, given growth in air travel in developing markets counterbalanced by greater efficiency in new aircraft models, growth in rail, and potential environmental restrictions. But even if it didn't, it might be enough to remove some of the volatility from jet fuel prices and annoy some Alberta real estate speculators who shit kittens whenever energy prices threaten to drop. But based on the article, which is admittedly short on references, slashdot contributors calculated that producing enough fuel for current aviation needs would require an area roughly the size of the Netherlands. What I love about slashdot is the logical solution proposed by multiple people was "Great, let's flood Holland and use that." Most experts would point out that production could be distributed throughout the world's sewage treatment plants and America's deserts, but I say, why go to all the trouble when we can just flood the Netherlands?

At this point, what's their big contribution? I'll admit, I like the occasional slice of gouda cheese in a croque-monsieur, but that's about it. Plus once the town of Gouda was flooded, anybody could make Gouda cheese, just like we can all make parmesan cheese and champagne (but not roquefort or those poncy bastards will sue us). Losing Ajax's youth development would really hurt football, but then again, they've already set up shop in Capetown, probably already hedging against flooding, and the canals don't freeze anymore, so give the speedskaters an orange unitard, a ticket to Stockholm, and an ounce of prime Humboldt Co. bud and they'll never know the difference. Amstelboy's mom has long since emigrated, as have all the people anyone might like to hang onto: Robin van Persie's up in London, HP's off in Singapore, and Paul Verhoeven has made like one Dutch-language film in the last quarter century (the Belgians crank out all the cinema in the Benelux anyways). We can send over a helicopter to pick up the rest of Amstelboy's family (and Carice van Houten) off the roof of the Hoftoren. On his way out, Rudolf can pick me up a few kilos of gouda cheese and flick the switch to shut off all the windmills, and it'll only take one good rain to have the whole place flooded, and a major victory for alternative energy sources.