ABO Blog

WASHINGTON, DC (December 3, 2014) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, expressed appreciation for passage in the House of Representatives of legislation that would extend expired tax credits for advanced biofuels through the end of 2014, but called on Congress and the White House to negotiate a long-term tax policy that would accelerate the development and commercialization of new low-carbon, domestic fuels that create jobs and further strengthen the nation’s energy security.

“Algae-based technologies can help supply the full range of transportation fuels we use every day, but to make these approaches commercially available soon the industry needs more robust and predictable regulations and policies from Washington,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “A long term credit for the production of advanced biofuels would increase the confidence of investors and entrepreneurs that the United States is committed to bringing a new generation of biofuel technologies. The passage of today’s bill is a positive step forward, but we hope to see more in the future.”

The bill passed by the House today, the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 5771), would extend the suite of advanced biofuel tax provisions – including the second generation biofuel production tax credit for algae and cellulosic biofuels – that expired at the end of 2013 through the end of 2014. Legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee would have provided a two-year extension through 2015.

Both extensions demonstrate the support these technologies have among policy makers, but the long lead times associated with building new commercial facilities means that the foresight in a multi-year or permanent tax credit would help investors and entrepreneurs better plan for the future—and create a new industry that can improve the nation’s economic and energy security.

ABO members are currently developing algae cultivation and processing technologies that can provide sustainable solutions for commodity fuels, chemicals, food and feed applications, as well as for high-value applications such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, among other applications. More information about algae and its potential can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies, and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits, and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (December 2, 2014) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, formally submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency, asking it to explicitly recognize the use of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies as an approved emissions reduction strategy under the agency’s new power plant regulations. ABO’s comments describe how encouraging the development of innovative technologies that use greenhouse gases to make valuable products can simultaneously reduce emissions and spur economic development.

“Clarifying the role that carbon utilization can play in the EPA’s emissions rules would help unleash a wave of innovative technologies that can use greenhouse gases to manufacture more sustainable products, chemicals and fuels,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Algae cultivation is one technology that can consume greenhouse gases, lower the costs of compliance for emitters, and reduce demand for the crude oil we currently use to make many of the products we need for daily life.”

ABO’s comments include examples of how its members are currently deploying a number of technologies that can convert CO₂ captured from power generation into renewable fuels, chemicals, fertilizers, plastics, feed ingredients and other products. By creating a market for captured carbon, carbon utilization can mitigate, offset, or even negate the cost of carbon capture, providing a CO₂ reduction mechanism that minimizes the cost to industry or ratepayers.

ABO’s submitted comments are part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about carbon utilization. That campaign has resulted in more than 130 letters to the EPA that specifically call for the agency to explicitly affirm that CCU is an accepted method for emissions reduction. Earlier this fall, ABO launched a “We the People” White House petition in support of CCU that attracted nearly 350 respondents from 45 states and 215 cities. Additionally, climate change legislation proposed in November by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) offered an exemption from fees for facilities that used CCU, further demonstrating the growing support for the approach among policy makers.

A PDF of ABO’s full comments can be downloaded at:
https://algaebiomass.org/abo-comments/

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies, and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits, and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.