Posts Tagged ‘clean energy’

Release Courtesy of the Governor’s Office

January 8, 2010
Alarie Ray-Garcia (505) 476-2248

SANTA FE- Governor Bill Richardson today announced Johnson Plate and Tower will build a wind tower manufacturing facility in Santa Teresa. The facility is expected to create dozens of construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs.

“I am pleased that Johnson Plate and Tower chose New Mexico to build its new wind tower manufacturing plant and plans to create 150 new jobs in our state,” Governor Richardson said. “This announcement shows that our aggressive efforts to create jobs, especially during this global recession, are paying off. Manufacturing of green technology is an important component of building a green jobs economy here in New Mexico.”

Today President Obama announced that Johnson Plate and Tower is one 183 projects that will share $2.3 billion in Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States. Johnson Plate and Tower was awarded $2,385,000 in credits for its Santa Teresa facility.

Johnson Plate and Tower will build its more than 84,000 square-foot manufacturing facility on 22 acres in the Verde Logistics Park. The company expects to employ 40-50 people during the construction phase and then move to a full time operation employing 150 people in the manufacturing of wind towers for wind farms across the country.

“We are excited that Johnson Plate and Tower chose to locate in our growing industrial border-plex region here in New Mexico,” Economic Secretary Fred Mondragon said. “I want to commend Dona Ana County for the passage of the Local Economic Development Act that helped make this project possible.”

Release Courtesy of U.S. Congressman Harry Teague

Washington, DC - Thursday, Congressman Harry Teague introduced legislation that would make algae-based biofuels eligible for the same tax incentives available for cellulosic biofuels such as ethanol.  H.R. 4168, the Algae-based Renewable Fuel Promotion Act, expands the definition of cellulosic biofuel to include algae for the cellulosic biofuel producer credit, and the special allowance for cellulosic biofuel plant property.

“In New Mexico’s second congressional district we have already started to take algae-based biofuel to the commercial level and there is enormous potential to expand this industry,” said Congressman Harry Teague.  “It is time to give this proven source of renewable fuel the same advantages that other renewable fuels currently enjoy so we can continue to create good clean energy jobs in New Mexico producing homegrown American power.”

Algae to produce green crude can be grown on non-arable land, in salt or brackish water, and using carbon dioxide and sunlight as its primary feedstocks.  Therefore, algae has not presented the same land use concerns as other biofuels and does not have any of the ‘food versus fuel’ implications that plague some other biofuels.

Green crude derived from algae can be refined into drop-in transportation fuels, such as jet, gasoline, and diesel that are entirely compatible with existing infrastructure and engines.  Algae can also be used to produce ethanol and biodiesel.

Recently, algae has been tested in the real world.  On Jan 7, 2009, algae-based fuel was used to successfully propel one of the two engines of a Continental 737-800 jetliner.  And this summer, a modified Toyota Prius dubbed “the Algaeus” successfully drove cross-country fueled by algae-based gasoline.

The legislation is endorsed by Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), the Southwestern Biofuels Association, Sapphire Energy, and Algenol Biofuels.