Category: Press

Agenda Showcases Breakthrough Algae Commercialization, Research and Supporting Industries

 Orlando, FL (July 8, 2013) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, announced today that the preliminary agenda for the 7^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit has been finalized, unveiling a list of algae experts and leaders that will be discussing the latest advances in algae commercialization, research and finance at the industry’s largest conference. The agenda for the Summit, being held September 30-October 3^rd in Orlando, Florida can be viewed at: www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

Among the agenda highlights are updates on the full range of algae-derived products, from fuels to feeds and specialty chemicals. An opening panel on the latest developments in algae-derived biofuels will include Paul Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Florida-based Algenol Biofuels and CJ Warner, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Sapphire Energy. A second opening panel featuring companies commercializing high-value algae-based feeds, nutritional products and specialty chemicals includes Tim Burns, President of BioProcess Algae; Dan Simon, President of Heliae and Mike VanDrunen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Algix, LLC.

ABO chose Orlando for the location of the Summit given the presence of some of the industry’s most promising companies in the region. The Southwest has also recently been shown to have ample land and saltwater resources required to support a robust algae industry.

“Algae is attracting more attention than ever because we are seeing, for the first time, new production facilities come on line and a growing array of algae-derived products, including biofuels, being offered to consumers,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of ABO. “Our meeting in Orlando will highlight the tremendous progress that algae entrepreneurs, researchers and investors have made around the globe. We expect announcements about new breakthroughs and deals in everything from algae fuel, fertilizers, feeds, and even services like wastewater treatment and CO2 emission remediation.”

The Summit comes at a time when the industry is seeing more algae companies successfully move their laboratory breakthroughs into the marketplace. Many companies are opening large-scale demonstration and pre-commercial facilities, with expectations for expansion in the future. State and national policy makers are also taking notice. Arizona, Ohio and Iowa have all recently passed legislation to attract algae companies, and this past January Congress passed the first-ever algae biofuel tax credit.

The Algae Biomass Organization produces the Algae Biomass Summit annually. The 2012 Algae Biomass Summit, held in Denver, Colorado, was attended by almost 800 stakeholders across the industry from more than 20 countries.

More information about the Summit can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information 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.

Algae-based technologies, which convert CO2 into valuable products, can help emitters meet regulations and drive revenue at the same time

MINNEAPOLIS and WASHINGTON, DC—(June 25, 2013)—Today’s announcement by the Obama Administration on regulations to reduce the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions presents significant partnership opportunities for the U.S. algae industry with utilities and other regulated entities, according to Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry.

“While many people think of CO2 emissions as a problem, algae technology companies see them as valuable inputs for the production of algae-based food, fuel and animal feed. Algae consume CO2 as they grow, and for high productivity, algae require more CO2 which can be supplied by emission sources such as power plants. By reusing CO2, algae-based technologies provide carbon-intensive industries with an emissions reduction approach that is a revenue-generating opportunity, rather than a costly expense.

While reducing overall emissions, these technologies also reduce our reliance on imported oil and create new sources of food and feed on lands unsuitable for agriculture and using waters unsuitable for human consumption.

Members of the Algae Biomass Organization look forward to working with utilities and other affected entities to showcase algae-based solutions that can help them meet their obligations while creating jobs, reducing costs and creating new growth opportunities.”

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.

Allowing higher ethanol blends in gasoline a win for economy and environment 

MINNEAPOLIS—(June 24, 2013)—The decision by the Supreme Court to reject a challenge that would have blocked sales of E15 ethanol blends was welcomed today in a statement by Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry.

“Today’s decision is another step in our nation’s journey to a future of cleaner, renewable and more secure sources of fuel for our cars, trucks and planes,” said Rosenthal. “The decision affirms the hard work of innovative companies that are commercializing new feedstocks, such as algae, to be a source of sustainable ethanol and other biofuels. These are fuels that can be produced by Americans for Americans. From coal to petroleum to biofuels, America has a long tradition of adopting new and better energy sources, and today it’s great to know we are keeping the doors to innovation open.”

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans without significant impacts on valuable agricultural land or fresh water. More information 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.

Contact:
Nate Kommers, Scoville Public Relations for ABO

206-625-0075 x2, nate.kommers@scovillepr.com

Diverse group from across industry’s value chain represents algae production, end-users and professional services

MINNEAPOLIS–May 14, 2013 – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today announced the election of seven members to its Board of Directors for the 2013-2015 term. The new and re-elected board members join eight others that are already serving terms on the board.

ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to educate the general public, policymakers and industry about the benefits of algae to address energy security, food production and sustainability, and to advocate for policies that can accelerate the development of commercial markets for products made from algae.

ABO’s board is comprised of representatives from multiple sectors of an industry that is seeing more investment as well as the commissioning of several large-scale demonstration projects across the country. Board members come from industry sectors that include academia, professional services, producers, technology suppliers, project developers and end-users. The newly elected board members are:

• Tim Burns – BioProcess Algae
• Jose Olivares – Los Alamos National Laboratories
• Todd Taylor – Fredrikson & Byron

Four board members were re-elected to a new two-year term:

• David Hazlebeck – General Atomics
• Margaret McCormick – Matrix Genetics
• Paul Woods – Algenol Biofuels
• Tim Zenk – Sapphire Energy

These new and re-elected board members join ABO’s current board members:

• Mark Allen – Accelergy Corporation
• John Benemann – MicroBio Engineering, Inc.
• Tom Byrne – Byrne & Company, Ltd.
• Bill Glover – Boeing Commercial Airplanes
• Greg Mitchell – Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Joel Murdock – FedEx Express
• Philip Pienkos – National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Jim Rekoske – Honeywell/UOP

“ABO’s board of directors sets the organization’s agenda and plays an integral role in moving the algae industry forward,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “I’m glad to see representatives participating from every facet of our industry; from those providing the technical research to those operating large demonstration facilities, to the end-users that have an interest in renewable fuels and other products derived from algae.”

In addition to education and outreach efforts with policymakers, ABO produces and hosts the industry’s premier global conference, the Algae Biomass Summit, which this year will be held in Orlando, Florida, September 30-October 3^rd.

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, D.C. – April 23, 2013 – The  Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, congratulated one of its member companies, BioProcess Algae LLC, for being selected by the Department of Energy to receive a grant of up to $6.4 million for a pilot-scale biorefinery project that will advance biofuel technologies as a domestic alternative to power our cars, trucks, and planes that meet military specifications for jet fuel and shipboard diesel.

“We’re thrilled BioProcess Algae has been selected as one of four pilot biorefineries that will receive support to accelerate the availability of advanced, renewable biofuels,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of ABO. “The United States has a long history of supporting new energy technologies, and the Department of Energy’s selection is a testament to BioProcess Algae’s impressive progress and the potential for algae to provide America with renewable, domestic biofuels that don’t compete with food or fresh water.”

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today. Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans without significant impacts on valuable agricultural land or fresh water. More information 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.