We have, I think you know, have put an aggressive range on the table for a reduction in carbon dioxides from our economy.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

For example, in my company we're making 30% more electricity than we were in 1990, and we're doing it with about 40% less emissions of sulfur dioxides and nitrous oxides.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Much work is left to get the proteins producing the kind of silicon or titanium dioxides that could run a computer or power your house, but the dream is to have synthetic creations that organically produce what would normally need a mining expedition -- imagine something akin to the glass-like Venus' Flower Basket sponge (pictured above) sitting in an Intel factory.

ENGADGET: UCSB engineers proteins that make silicon, leads hipsters to insist on organically-grown computers