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Sapphire Energy Calls Algae Industry to Action

Industry partnerships essential to new energy policy advocacy

SEATTLE – Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy CEO and co-founder, today called for the algal biomass industry to put aside competitive differences and come together to address national energy policy that affects the algal industry as a whole. Pyle spoke on a panel explaining the politics of energy policy in the United States at the 2008 Algae Biomass Summit.

“We have reached a pivot point in the development of our industry, where challenges and barriers at the national level are presenting themselves to the collective industry and we have the opportunity to break through,” said Pyle, who’s company is creating renewable transportation fuels – gasoline, jet fuel and diesel.

Pyle also spoke of the urgent need to address energy policy issues in a timely manner. Energy and scientific experts agree that algae technologies can create tremendous opportunities to develop new transportation fuels; significantly increase energy security; lower our carbon footprint by sequestering hundreds of millions of tons of carbon; and give America a leadership role in changing the world’s energy future. Yet, while there has been increasing interest in algae-based alternatives, current policy provides limited incentives to algae-based products. Pyle called for technology neutrality in the Renewable Fuel Standards, so the entire renewable energy sector competes on a level playing field, regardless of technology platforms.

“Both presidential candidates have proposed ideas on how to meet energy demands as well as on how to combat climate change including hundreds of millions of dollars in scientific research, market incentives, and loans for more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation fuels,” said Pyle. “Algae alternatives should have a space in these plans.”

About Sapphire Energy

Sapphire Energy was founded to address the overwhelming inadequacies of current biofuel approaches. The company has built a revolutionary platform using sunlight, CO2 and microorganisms such as algae to produce renewable fuel products – gasoline, jet fuel and diesel that meet ASTM standards. The final product is not ethanol or biodiesel. Sapphire is led by a team of entrepreneurs and experts in cell biology, plant genomics and algal production, as well as investors with long histories of taking innovative technology to market, including co-founder ARCH Venture Partners, along with the Wellcome Trust, Cascade Investment and Venrock. Sapphire’s scientific supporters include The Scripps Research Institute; University of California, San Diego; the University of Tulsa, and the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Project. The company is located in San Diego. For more information, visit www.sapphireenergy.com and www.greencrudeproduction.com .

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