29 



Mr. AuCoiN. This is more of a specific question that I posed, and 

 I wonder if the Department has made comparisons of that kind. Do 

 you have that information? Is that information at hand? 



Mr. Adams. I am not aware of that data. 



Mr. AuCoiN. Would it be a good idea to have that kind of 

 information? 



Mr. Adams. Yes, I do think it would be. 



Mr. AuCoiN. Do you need to wait for that meeting that you 

 mentioned before providing that information to the committee? 



Mr. Adams. No, sir, we will certainly see what we can find. 



Mr. AuCoiN. Thank you very much. 



I have no further questions. 



[The following was received for the record:] 



Carbon Dioxide Pollution 



Carbon dioxide pollution is the subject of an extensive research effort on the part 

 of DOE's Basic Energy Sciences Office in collaboration with the National Academy 

 of Sciences. This study is treating all aspects of the problem, including biomass and 

 coal. The data is extensive but not yet complete. The following is a simplified view 

 of the CO2 balance. CO2 pollution is caused by burning substance which have not 

 taken up CO2 in the geologically recent past. If the United States consumes 10 

 quads of biomass each year for energy and is also growing biomass at that same 

 annual rate, the net annual contribution of CO2 is zero. On the other hand, if 10 

 quads of coal are consumed, almost every molecule of carbon in the coal is released 

 as CO2 without a corresponding mechanism to reabsorb the CO2. 



Mr. Studds. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Adams, your testimony will not be discounted solely because 

 you are a resident of northern Virginia. 



I also want the record to reflect that I do not think Mr. Emery 

 meant to indicate that the harvesting of Irish moss off the coast 

 ought to be mechanized. It has traditionally been harvested by 

 dory, and several people have met their just desserts in attempts to 

 mechanize. 



Mr. Emery. I agree with the gentleman. It has been harvested by 

 dory and by hand. 



Mr. Studds. A lot less than $750 a ton. When I was doing it, we 

 got 2 cents a pound, I am interested to see who is getting $750 a 

 ton for giant kelp. 



Thank you. 



Mr. Adams. Thank you. 



Mr. Studds. Our next witness is Dr. Ab Flowers, director of the 

 Gas Research Institute. 



Mr. Flowers? 



STATEMENT OF DR. AB FLOWERS, DIRECTOR, GAS SUPPLY RE- 

 SEARCH, GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ACCOMPANIED BY 

 ALAN TOMPKINS, BIOMASS PROGRAM MANAGER, GENERAL 

 ELECTRIC CO. 



Dr. Flowers. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I 

 am Dr. Ab Flowers, director of gas supply research for the Gas 

 Research Institute, a not-for-profit, scientific organization that 

 plans, finances, and manages a gas-related research and develop- 

 ment program. I am pleased to appear before you today to provide 

 information on the marine biomass research program being con- 

 ducted by the GRI, in conjunction with the Department of Energy 

 and New York State ERDA. 



