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Truly Sustainable Renewable Future
April 17, 2012 – 10:42 am | No Comment

Advanced Biofuels are high-energy liquid transportation fuels derived from: low nutrient input/high per acre yield crops; agricultural or forestry waste; or other sustainable biomass feedstocks including algae.  The key word is “sustainable.”
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Articles in New Mexico

Santa Fe Community College to Offer OSHA Biofuels Training June 1-2, 2012 Santa Fe, NM
April 30, 2012 – 3:40 pm | No Comment
Santa Fe Community College to Offer OSHA Biofuels Training   June 1-2, 2012    Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe Community College will be offering an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) two-day course providing basic information regarding hazards, regulations, health and safety training for workers and entrepreneurs entering the biofuels industry. Completion …

Whatever Happened to Algae and Biofuels?
April 23, 2012 – 12:30 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …A couple of voices expressed caution, prominent among them, algae’s Doctor No, John Benemann of Benemann Associates, who wanted at the time, “if algae looks good [for fuel], we’re all …

The Life of Algae
March 26, 2012 – 7:00 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  This video from Sapphire Energy tracks the cultivation of algae from their San Diego lab in microscopic images, to petri dishes, to flasks, and then outside in their Las Cruces, NM facility …

No Farm Bill, No Tier 3—Not until after the Election; Sundrop Fuels Presents an Alternative
March 23, 2012 – 12:58 pm | No Comment

By Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA)  At the March 21 Bioenergy Day on Capitol Hill, discussion focused on the need for a continued Renewable Fuels Standard, reviews of the history of biofuels, assessment of current …

Synthetic Fuel Firm Targets International Adoption
March 13, 2012 – 5:40 pm | No Comment

by Bob Brooks (Automotive Industries)  Possibly the most innovative new synthetic fuel, developed by privately financed Joule Unlimited, has proven the cost effectiveness of its system during 18 months at a pilot plant in Arizona. …

I Want a New Bug: Sapphire Licenses Spirulina from Earthrise for Biofuels
March 1, 2012 – 12:23 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In California, Sapphire Energy announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with Earthrise Nutritionals, to integrate Earthrise Nutritionals’ spirulina strain into Sapphire’s growing inventory of cyanobacteria and algae strains …

Obama Touts Algal Biofuels; $14M in New R&D Funding; $2.28 per Gallon Algal Biofuels in Sight?
February 27, 2012 – 2:38 pm | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …In Washington, the Obama Administration outlined a new $14 million round of R&D grants for algal biofuels, as the US President highlighted algal biofuels in a speech at the University of Miami …

SFCC Leads Statewide Centers of Excellence in Biofuels and Green Building/Energy Efficiency
February 17, 2012 – 3:15 pm | No Comment

(Santa Fe Community College)  Santa Fe Community College has been named to lead statewide Centers of Excellence in Biofuels and Green Building/Energy Efficiency under a New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions State Energy Sector Partnership grant. The …

When Bio and Solar Converge: 6 Hot Projects at the Bio-Solar-Electric Frontier
February 3, 2012 – 10:54 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  … When it comes down to it, a living organism such as a plant is an incredibly sophisticated next-gen solar panel, harvesting light as well as CO2, water and nutrients …

Joule Unlimited, CPFD Software Win State Job Training Funds
January 25, 2012 – 2:29 pm | No Comment

by  Megan Kamerick  (New Mexico Business Weekly)  …The JTIP board approved $263,542.58 for Joule Unlimited    to create 20 jobs. The company is building the first phase of its commercial plant in Hobbs on land owned by the state …

Algae-Based Fuels May Soon Gush from the Desert
January 18, 2012 – 10:24 am | No Comment

by by Kevin Robinson-Avila  (New Mexico Business Weekly)  Algae ponds are starting to color New Mexico’s desert landscape green.
Sapphire Energy Inc., which uses a proprietary process to turn algae oil into renewable gasoline to replace fossil …

Whiskey from Soda: Jraises $70M, Heads for Commercialization
January 18, 2012 – 9:30 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …So, along comes Joule. It’s a known fact that some microorganisms could be modified or evolved to ferment gaseous carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. Combine that with some hydrogen taken …

Who’s in the Lead? Algae around the World
January 12, 2012 – 1:10 pm | No Comment

by Jonathan Williams (Biofuels Digest)  Who’s in front in the development of algal-based fuels and biomaterials? India, China, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Israel, the EU, or the US. The NAABB’s globe-trotting chief parses it out.
In New …

Algae Perspectives: A Look Back…a Look Forward
December 30, 2011 – 1:10 pm | No Comment

by Mary Rosenthal (Algal Biomass Organization)  …Many of you will remember that 2011 began with a discouraging report that claimed algae biofuels could never play a role in US energy security. We at the Algal …

New Mexico State University Advances their Algae Test Bed Research
December 30, 2011 – 12:14 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  Since early October, New Mexico State University’s Institute for Energy & the Environment (IEE) researchers have been transitioning from algae operations in the IEE water and energy lab to the Algae Test …

Los Alamos National Laboratory Announces Top 10 Science Stories of 2011
December 23, 2011 – 1:39 pm | No Comment

(Los Alamos National Laboratory)  Los Alamos National Laboratory’s top 10 science stories of 2011 illustrate the broad variety of scientific excellence that’s the hallmark of the Laboratory. This year’s stories include alternative energy research, world …

Xconomist of the Week: 5 Questions with Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle
December 5, 2011 – 2:01 pm | No Comment

by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy)  …Jason Pyle:  …So soon, we will see the U.S. military as the leading customer for crude oil replacements. As pressure rises on the commercial airline industry (which uses most of …

Construction to Begin on New Mexico Biofuels Plant
November 15, 2011 – 10:01 am | No Comment

(Ventura County Star/AP)  … Joule Unlimited Inc. plans to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide waste into biofuel at the planned facility in Hobbs. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2012.
…State officials say Joule …

USDA Funds Project To Encourage Renewable Fuel Production, Job Creation In New Mexico
November 8, 2011 – 9:31 am | No Comment

(Sapphire Energy)  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA has issued a loan guarantee that will allow a biofuels firm to construct a facility in New Mexico to produce “green crude” oil from algae …

A.I.M’s Interview: Sapphire Energy’s C.J. Warner and Tim Zenk
October 31, 2011 – 3:42 pm | No Comment

by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine)  …C.J. (Warner, Sapphire Energy’s President and Chairman) keynoted at the recent Algal Biomass Summit, attending along with Tim Zenk, Sapphire’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs, who was formerly executive …

Ethanol Firm’s Next Bet: Algae
October 31, 2011 – 2:37 pm | No Comment

by David Shaffer (Star Tribune)  An emerging green industry aims to develop a new source of fuel to replace oil, but the quick money could be elsewhere.
Green slime is growing in ponds next to an …

Los Alamos National Laboratory Develops First Genetically Engineered “Magnetic” Algae
October 21, 2011 – 7:05 am | No Comment

(Los Alamos National Laboratory)  LANL scientists have genetically engineered “magnetic” algae to investigate alternative, more efficient harvesting and lipid extraction methods for biofuels. The researchers seek to reduce the cost of algae-based biofuel production.
Currently, used …

New Mexico Producer Awarded Rural Development Grant
October 12, 2011 – 8:50 am | No Comment

by Erin Voegele   (Biodiesel Magazine)  New Mexico-based Rio Valley Biofuels has been awarded a total of $40,962 in grant funding from USDA Rural Development to support upgrades at the facility and help support the hire of …

Don’t Forget the Combustion Engine
October 10, 2011 – 9:05 am | No Comment

by Robert W. Carling (Sandia National Laboratory/The Washington Post) op ed:  …Amid the national discussion on the future of electric vehicles, biofuels, fuel cells and other advanced technologies, the fact remains that it will take …

The A.I.M. Interview: Sandia and DOE’s Ron Pate
September 19, 2011 – 8:26 am | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  A Principal Member of the Technical Staff of Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Sandia National Laboratories, serving in the Earth Systems Analysis – Energy, Resources, and Systems Analysis division, Ron Pate has been on M&O …

Crapo, Udall Introduce Bill to Level Playing Field for Advanced Biofuels
September 19, 2011 – 7:32 am | No Comment

(Senator Mike Crapo)  Would make renewable fuels standard more “technology neutral”
U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)and Tom Udall (D-NM)recently introduced bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would help level the playing field for advanced biofuels like …

A.I.M. Interview: Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Dr. Babetta Marrone and Dr. Jim Coons
September 6, 2011 – 3:19 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  Dr. Babetta Marrone and Dr. Jim Coons are in charge of developing the Ultrasonic Algae Biofuel Harvester, as their part of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)’s part of the 3-year NAABB project.
…Together, …

Vilsack: USDA Will Continue to Push for Blender Pump Expansion
August 22, 2011 – 11:30 am | No Comment

by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine)  The USDA’s Aug. 17 announcement of 900 Rural Energy for America Program grants included just 21 awards for blender pumps. USDA officials promise, however, that more funding is on …

The A.I.M. Interview: Dr. Richard Sayre
August 15, 2011 – 12:35 pm | No Comment

by Jonathan Williams (Algae Industry Magazine)   Dr. Richard Sayre keeps his plate full as both the Director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and as …

Udall to Introduce Bill that Would Level Playing Field for Advanced Biofuels
August 11, 2011 – 2:13 pm | No Comment

(Senator Tom Udall) U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced his plans to introduce bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would help level the playing field for advanced biofuels like algae by reforming the …

Researchers Find Potential Key for Unlocking Biomass Energy
July 22, 2011 – 7:37 am | No Comment

(Department of Energy/Los Alamos National Laboratory/EurekAlert!)  LANL molecular model helps expose cellulose weakness
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center have found a potential key for …

SIPI Students Win Award for Algae Biofuel Project
July 20, 2011 – 12:53 pm | No Comment

by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine)  A team of students at New Mexico-based Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute has been awarded first place in the 2011 Renewable Energy Challenge Competition with its algae biofuel project. The competition …

2011 Biomass Program Peer Review Meetings Final Meetings June 27-28, 2011 Chrystal City, VA
June 24, 2011 – 9:33 am | No Comment
2011 Biomass Program Peer Review Meetings  Final Meetings June 27-28, 2011 Chrystal City, VA

(US Department of Energy)  The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Biomass Program will be conducting detailed biennial peer review meetings of its activities throughout the first half …

‘Produced Water’ Used to Grow Algae for Biofuels
June 10, 2011 – 9:27 am | No Comment

(R&D Magazine)   Scientists recently conducted the first pilot-scale test of algae growth using water from an oil-production well in Jal, New Mexico. This impure water, called “produced water,” is pumped to the …

Algal Harvesting Progress Update from DOE
May 19, 2011 – 2:40 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  Joyce Yang, Technology Development Manager for the Department of Energy’s Biomass Program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, has revealed recent progress made in algal harvesting technology by the …

Linde and Sapphire Energy Announce Deal to Co-Develop CO2 Management System for Algae Fuel Production
May 11, 2011 – 11:20 am | No Comment

(PR NewsWire)  The technology group, The Linde Group, and Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world’s leaders in algae-based crude oil, today announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to co-develop a low-cost …

Joule Picks New Mexico Site for Solar Fuel Project; Now Competitive with $20/Barrel Diesel?
May 6, 2011 – 9:05 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  In Massachusetts, Joule reported that they have signed a lease for 1,200 acres in Lea County, New Mexico, with the potential to scale the project up to 5,000 acres for …

Algae as Alternative Energy Source
May 2, 2011 – 12:49 pm | No Comment

(PBS)  …SESNO: Mendez and his company, Sapphire Energy, brought us an algae- to-fuel idea they say can have real world impact soon. They plan to begin commercial production in 2012.
MENDEZ: So algae — using photosynthesis …

Solix BioSystems™ Sells and Delivers First Commercial Lumian™ AGS4000
April 29, 2011 – 5:29 pm | No Comment

(Solix BioSystems)  Solix BioSystems today announced the first sale and delivery of its Lumian AGS4000 high productivity, fully integrated algae cultivation system to New Mexico State University (NMSU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Lumian AGS4000 is …

Santa Fe Community College Holds First Algaculture Workshop
April 13, 2011 – 3:16 pm | No Comment

by Charles Bensinger  (Algae Industry Magazine)  The Santa Fe Community College held its first Algaculture Seminar and Workshop on April 9th at its new Sustainable Technology Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. SFCC Alternative Fuels …

Oregon’s Diesel to Contain 5 Percent Renewable Biodiesel
April 12, 2011 – 4:37 pm | No Comment

(National Biodiesel Board)  Oregon is about to become the second state to require that most of the diesel sold there contain at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5). The National Biodiesel Board applauded the state on …

A.I.M. Interview: CEHMM’s Doug Lynn
April 11, 2011 – 3:04 pm | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  Southeastern New Mexico’s Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management, better known as CEHMM, was established in May of 2004 as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing the impact of hazardous materials …

Monsanto Invests in Sapphire; Goes Hunting for Yield Traits in the Wild, Wild Wet
March 9, 2011 – 10:33 am | No Comment

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest)  …But let’s take this opportunity to really lock down an understanding of Sapphire. That will help reveal the motivations and opportunities in this deal. But also, in a larger sense, …

10 to watch: Senators on Energy
February 5, 2011 – 3:17 pm | No Comment

by Darren Goode (Politico)  With Republicans controlling the House and ramping up oversight and investigations of the Obama administration, focus at least initially in the next Congress will be on the Senate to lay a …

A.I.M. Interview: Sapphire Energy’s CEO Dr. Jason Pyle
January 24, 2011 – 9:23 am | No Comment

by David Schwartz   (Algae Industry Magazine)   Dr. Jason Pyle, the high profile CEO at the even more high profile “green crude” developer, Sapphire Energy, holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Physiology, as …

Sandia Researchers Tailoring Fungi-Based Biofuels to Meet the Needs of Current, Advanced Combustion Engines
January 20, 2011 – 3:17 pm | No Comment

(Sandia National Laboratories)  Engine experts and biofuels researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working on a project that aims to modify an endophytic fungus so that it will produce fuel-type hydrocarbons for transportation purposes.
The biofuels …

Los Alamos National Laboratory Announces Top 10 Science & Technology Developments of 2010
December 22, 2010 – 4:42 pm | No Comment

(Los Alamos National Laboratory) … Gaining insight to more efficiently convert plant biomass into biofuels
LANL scientists and University of New Mexico collaborators discovered chinks in the armor of lignin, the component of plant cell walls that …

OriginOil Selected to Help Build New Advanced Algae Center in New Mexico
December 2, 2010 – 8:12 am | No Comment

(OriginOil)  Former DOE Aquatic Species Program Site Will Enable Commercial Scale Testing for Algae-to-oil Industry
OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor …

A.I.M. Interview: Eldorado Biofuels’ Paul Laur
November 30, 2010 – 11:47 am | No Comment

by David Schwartz  (Algae Industry Magazine)  …Up until recently a low profile player in the algae arena, Eldorado Biofuels has developed a niche that may not have received much attention so far, but has the …

New Mexico State University Funded to Study Algae-based Jet Fuel
November 26, 2010 – 11:22 am | No Comment

(Algae Industry Magazine)  he U.S. military wants New Mexico State University to find improved ways to turn algae into a sustainable source for jet fuel. The research project is part of a $2.346 million grant funded …