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Rapid growth in the economy of the United States and its steady expansion has resulted in a concomitant demand for energy for domestic and industrial processes, 90% of which is being currently met from fossil fuel sources of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. The ever-dwindling reserves of these fossil fuel sources prompt the development of sustainable and renewable energy supplies. The development of alternative energy sources, which make for environmental sustainability while being economically competitive, is a topic of current research interest and high importance. Biofuels have a high potential as an alternative to traditional energy sources, but need continued research and optimization in order to become a viable source of energy. Photosynthetic plants such as microalgae are an ideal biomass feedstock for energy and chemical production due to their fast and robust growth in a wide range of conditions and their efficient carbon dioxide fixation. Microalgae is composed of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins which can be extracted and converted to biofuels and other valuable chemicals. Extraction methods already exist, but literature shows that these processes fail economically due to the energy-intensive process involved in turning wet algae to dry algae. A solution to skip over this highly energy intensive step is proposed. The novel extraction method consists of the use of a switchable solvent to extract lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins all in one process while starting from wet algae. After extraction, the solvent is able to be recycled back for future use. The reusable nature of the solvent and costs saved in energy reduction make the process viable for the production of biofuels. Species selection and cultivation conditions are also examined to manipulate the algae composition during culture. The extraction method is deemed to be viable due to the successful conversion of lipids to biofuel and by fermenting carbohydrates to valuable chemicals in a more economically feasible way.