WWU chemist hopes to turn algae into biofuel

Ask consumers about the idea of switching from fossil fuel to biodiesel and two questions are likely to come up: Will biodiesel production hurt the environment? How much will the cost at the pump pinch their wallets?

Scientists are trying to produce biofuels that will answer both questions the same way: "As little as possible."

For now, soybean oil is the most widely used oil in biodiesel, but an easy-to-grow crop is being studied extensively as a possible fuel source - alga.