Algal Biomass Organization`s Executive Director Mary Rosenthal Testifies Before Congress on Benefits of Algae-Based Fuels

Reuters
Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:15pm EDT

Publicly Available Testimony Highlights Algae`s Role as a Carbon-Reducing,
Sustainable Biofuel Feedstock and the Need for Financial and Regulatory Parity
to Support Development of Industry, Commercialization

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)-- The Algal Biomass Organization`s (ABO) Executive Director Mary Rosenthal testified before Congress today on the economic and environmental benefits of
algae-based fuels, as well as on steps legislators can take to ensure algae receives benefits and financial incentives similar to those afforded to other biofuel feedstocks. As the leading trade organization representing the broad interests of the burgeoning algae industry, the ABO was asked to present testimony to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy,
and Research, which has jurisdiction over energy and bio-based energy production, on the status of 2nd and 3rd generation biofuel feedstocks.

During her testimony to the Subcommittee, Ms. Rosenthal outlined the key benefits of algae-based fuels as compared to other feedstocks, including commercial scalability, carbon dioxide recycling, use of non-arable land for production, and the wide range of fuel products such as ethanol, biodiesel, and biojet that can be derived from algae. Ms. Rosenthal reinforced the position of
the ABO and its more than 170 members organizations that algae are a sustainable, renewable feedstock that will strengthen the United States` energy independence should be a key component of a national low-carbon energy policy.

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A full copy of Ms. Rosenthal`s testimony is publicly available on the Algal
Biomass Organization`s website at: http://www.algalbiomass.org/.