That said, if the process really can be made to work, CO2 would go from being a polluting waste product to a valuable raw material, and it might even become worthwhile building systems to capture it and pipelines to ship it around.

ECONOMIST: Biofuels from algae: Craig's twist | The

After well over 1, 000 days since the initial idea we will be unveiling a finished vessel that showcases smarter designs that rethinks how we look at the waste that's polluting our seas and utilize it as a resource and as a solution.

CNN: Opinion: Creating a sea of change

Coal waste mountains exposed to air started churning out acidic water, polluting groundwater and streams.

FORBES: Fracking With Bad Water

Our energy problems essentially boil down to the fact that we waste too much energy and get too much of that energy from polluting sources.

CNN: Can a 'smart grid' turn us on to energy efficiency?

While solar is a far less polluting energy source than coal or natural gas, many panel makers are nevertheless grappling with a hazardous waste problem.

NPR: Solar Industry Grapples With Hazardous Wastes

It could strengthen the voice of protesters and activists fighting to close down polluting factories and lead to massive compensation claims by residents in areas where the soil has been poisoned by industrial waste.

WSJ: Cadmium-Tainted Rice Found in Guangzhou