Author: Carrie Cox

Purchase of 450,000 gallons of biofuels, including 100,000 gallons of algae-based fuel moves industry toward commercial production

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 6, 2011 – Today, Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Navy’s plans to purchase 450,000 gallons of drop-in biofuels, with 100,000 of those made from algal oils produced by Algae Biomass Organization member Solazyme, Inc.

“On behalf of the U.S. algae industry, I want to recognize both the U.S. Navy and the Department of Agriculture for their continued support for domestic biofuels derived from algae. The purchase announced yesterday represents another milestone in our industry’s progress in creating domestically produced, drop-in renewable biofuels.

This purchase, as part of the Navy’s effort to build a ‘Great Green Fleet,’ is also an important vote of confidence for an industry is developing drop-in biofuels at a national scale to supply our military with a more secure source of fuel, create jobs across the country, and provide consumers with an alternative to imported oil.

The algae industry are proud to be playing a role in the development of strategically important and scalable supplies of domestic fuels that don’t compete with food production and have a minimized carbon footprint. As an industry we are well positioned to meet those challenges, and provide jobs and economic development across the country as we do it. We look forward to working with the U.S Navy and Department of Agriculture as they continue to push for the commercial development of advanced biofuels derived from algae.”

About ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville Public Relations for ABO
206-625-0075 x1, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Algae-based fuels enter the mainstream with historic flight

CHICAGO – November 7, 2011 – Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today issued the following statement regarding the first U.S. commercial flight to be powered by algae-based biofuel, which landed earlier today at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport:

“On behalf of the U.S. algae industry and the Algal Biomass Organization, I want to congratulate ABO members Solazyme, Honeywell’s UOP and Boeing for their part in today’s historic United Flight 1403 which flew from Houston to Chicago powered in part by algae-based biofuel. Solazyme and Honeywell’s UOP produced the algae-based biofuel for the Boeing 737-824 aircraft.

“I also want to salute Boeing and United Airlines for their leadership roles in advancing aviation biofuels.

“It’s a great day for commercial aviation and an incredible day for the U.S. algae industry, which is working to meet the future demand for transportation fuels through sustainable, domestic and entirely renewable algae-based fuels.

“Today’s flight demonstrates without a doubt that algae-based fuels are ‘here and now’, and as companies across the country scale up operations, we expect to see more aircraft and vehicles fueling up with clean, domestic fuels made from algae.”

About the Algae Biomass Organization

Founded in 2008, the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable products 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville Public Relations for ABO
206-625-0075 x1, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) endorses tax parity for advanced biofuels

MINNEAPOLIS –October 27, 2011 – Day two of the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) and the world’s largest algae industry conference, was highlighted by discussions about the technological advances that will be bringing innovative algae-based products and fuels into everyday life.

Presentations and panel discussions throughout yesterday focused on the latest advances in algae biology, animal and aquaculture feed, algae processing, production and other components of the value chain for the new and rapidly expanding global algae industry.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urged attendees during a lunchtime video keynote to build on existing technological foundations that can help bring the next generation of advanced biofuels into large scale production, like that of the ethanol industry that has become a vital part of Minnesota’s economy. Recognizing the importance of federal support for domestically produced, sustainable fuels, Senator Klobuchar told the 800 conference attendees that algae-based fuels deserve to compete on a level playing field with fossil fuels when it comes to tax policy and industry subsidies.

Also addressing the conference during the luncheon was Cynthia (C. J.) Warner, president of Sapphire Energy. Predicting an enormous spike in demand for fuel in the coming decades, Ms. Warner described that the latest technologies behind algae-based fuels, like those that Sapphire is using to begin algae production on a commercial scale, have the ability to rapidly and economically provide for future transportation fuel needs.

The summit will continue through Thursday afternoon. Information on the event, including a full agenda is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.  Ongoing developments can also be monitored via the Twitter hashtag #ABS11.

About the ABO

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-660-5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com