Solazyme is about to make history as the first algae-biodiesel maker to meet stringent standards that diesel fuel must meet.
This post from the Wall Street Journal’s Environmental Capital blog has details:
Closely held Solazyme Inc. is set to announce shortly that its algae-derived biodiesel meets the American Society for Testing and Materials specification for diesel fuel. This means it can go into existing diesel engines without modifications.
Solazyme says it is the first diesel derived from algae to meet these standards.
Vegetable oil from single-celled algae has shown some promise as a source of renewable, alternative fuel. Several companies are pursuing growing it in lined pits or plastic tubes. Solazyme uses steel tanks and a microbial fermentation to get algae into the mood to reproduce and create oil.
I had the chance to talk to Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson back in February at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Orlando. Ever since, we’ve been following the progress of the little pond-scum-to-biodiesel maker. As you might remember from my April 17th, 2008 post, Solazyme’s biodiesel is able to stand up to cold weather… key for wider acceptance. This latest news of ASTM acceptance of Solazyme’s product is just another feather in its growing cap.
The leaders from the two biggest biofuels groups in the country are countering what they term as a smear campaign against the benefits of biodiesel and ethanol by the nation’s grocers.
“With oil prices up more than 100 percent in the last 12 months, it is wrongheaded for groups to attack biofuels which represent one of the few components of US energy policy that is actually working. Biofuels are currently contributing over 8 billion gallons of fuel to our fuel supply, without which fuel prices, and consequently food prices, would be even higher than they already are.”
“It’s time for some truth in advertising from the world’s largest food processors. Instead of smearing American farmers and the only fuel that is backing out foreign oil, why aren’t GMA and its allies pointing to the skyrocketing price of oil as the main cause of increasing food prices and the main reason American’s have less to spend.
After a long primary season, the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees for president continue to expend plenty of hot air… and probably will continue to do so through Election Day in November. Now, maybe some of that wind will actually power their conventions.
Xcel said the two, week-long conventions combined would use about 3,000-megawatt hours of power. The donated wind power is worth about $30,000, a utility spokesman said.
As we last left the Earthrace, a boat powered by 100 percent biodiesel trying to set a world record for circumnavigating the globe, she was limping into Singapore after hitting some debris near Palau and damaging a prop.
Hollywood is recognizing the importance of renewable energy and a greener approach to entertainment. The Los Angeles Film Festival, scheduled for June 19th-29th, will be using biodiesel, as well as offsetting carbon usage with investment in wind energy.
And speaking of the silver screen, Josh Tickell’s biodiesel documentary, “Fields of Fuel,” will be playing this week at the 
In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, the group said that granting a waiver would be contrary to the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment. The letter adds that blame placed on ethanol for higher food prices is misguided.
“This is not specifically an ethanol problem,” said 
During a speech to pork producers at the expo, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner admitted that ethanol is a factor in the higher prices. “Ethanol is a new demand factor in the corn market, to the tune of about a third of our production going forward,” Conner said. “Fortunately, we did produce 13 billion bushels of corn and so despite large quantities going to ethanol, we actually did feed more corn to livestock than in previous years, so we managed to grow that market for both feed and ethanol.”
Over on our sister