Alegenol Biofuels wins Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award

Algenol Biofuels, of Fort Myers, Florida, was recognized for its work with blue-green algae at the 20th annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Monday, winning one of six honors.

Algenol uses a blue-green algae it developed to produce fuels such as ethanol, using the algae’s natural processes to create fuel using CO2 from the air or industrial emitters, sunlight, and saltwater. The company’s technology dramatically reduces the carbon footprint associated with fuel creation, reduces costs and water usage, and does not rely on food crops as feedstocks.

A potentially revolutionary development, Algenol’s technology perfectly fits with the spirit of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, which seek to recognize organizations that take environmental risks and concerns and turn them into opportunities. In the awards’ two decades, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received more than 1,500 nominations and honored 104 technologies.

“From academia to business, we congratulate those who bring innovative solutions that will help solve some of the most critical environmental problems,” EPA Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Jim Jones said. “These innovations reduce the use of energy, hazardous chemicals and water, while cutting manufacturing costs and sparking investments.”