ABO Hires K&L Gates to Advocate for Algae Industry

December 19, 2011
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com

he Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) has engaged the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm, K&L Gates LLP to assist the ABO in its efforts to educate federal policy makers about the growing potential for algae biofuels and the role they will play in U.S. energy production, national security and economic development.

“The industry is breaking ground on new production facilities around the nation, paving the way to commercial availability. Still, however, algae-based fuels continue to be at a disadvantage when it comes to federal policy,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the ABO. “At a time when Congress is focused on job creation, policymakers need to look no further than the algae industry, which is creating jobs across the ecosystem, from research and engineering, to construction and manufacturing, to administrative jobs in nearly every state in the U.S.”

K&L Gates will also advocate for legislation that helps create parity for algae-derived fuels among the various regulatory and tax incentives available to other types of biofuels.

The ABO supports the bi-partisan Renewable Fuel Parity Act of 2011, which was introduced by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mike Crapo (R-ID). By amending the Clean Air Act and combining the existing categories of ‘‘cellulosic biofuel’’ and ‘‘advanced biofuel’’ into a single technology-neutral category of ‘‘advanced biofuel,’’ the bill gives algae-based companies the same tax treatment other biofuel companies have received for years.

“Making the RFS technology-neutral is just one change that can help put algae-based products on a level playing field,” said Rosenthal. “Our industry has made great strides in technology and commercialization over the last few years, and we expect markets for food, fuels and chemicals to see more algae-based entrants. Updating policies that were crafted before this technology had matured will have to be a priority if we want the U.S. to reap the benefits.”

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