Second algae biodiesel story from New Mexico

[HoosierRon]

Here is the first one.

Company May Build Facility for Algae Biofuel in Las Cruces

Southern New Mexico and the El Paso area have drawn interest from companies hoping to create biofuel from algae. Now Sapphire Energy of San Diego, Calif., hopes to build a facility on the West Mesa Industrial Park in Las Cruces that could eventually grow to thousands of acres.
...
Mendez said the facility in Las Cruces will have large ponds -- similar to what you might see at a fish farm -- in which the algae would be grown. When the algae is harvested, it would be dried and a machine would separate the solid material from the oil. The oil, called green crude, would then be refined just like crude taken from the ground.
...
A proposed ordinance and economic development project is on the Las Cruces City Council's agenda today that calls for Sapphire to buy 10 acres of land in the West Mesa Industrial Park at market value. Sapphire would create 30 jobs at 120 percent of the average salary for the area and would invest $6 million in the industrial park. After that, the city would convey 90 acres surrounding the original site to the company -- with a value of $1.35 million -- at no additional cost.

The company reports in its business plan to the city that it could eventually use about 2,000 acres for a commercial test plant.

[killerrd2]

I find that fascinating. I hope we can bring about a green fuel - and/or a "Mr. Fusion" device.

[randiferous]

Sounds cool, I am going to have to check that out once completed...I am on a project out here in El Paso. Las Cruces is just around the corner.

[Canyonaro]

I have always loved the idea of using algae, I just wish it was big enough now to get some results on it's viability. The sooner we can produce larger farms for it, the better.