The new, proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules for the Renewable Fuels Standard has the biofuels community split over if they will be good for the green fuels. The point of contention has to do with the impact Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) will have on biofuel production.

Under the new rules, biodiesel made from soybeans has been deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by only 22 %, while it must reduce those emissions by 50 percent if it wants to count toward the RFS 1-billion-gallon goal by 2012.There are emission goals for ethanol, but existing corn ethanol plants have been exempted but existing biodiesel refineries did not get the same break.

Algae-biodiesel business are happy with the proposed EPA changes. Dr. John Scott, chairman of PetroAlgae, said that this is a good first step toward building America’s clean energy economy. He also said that for further developments, the two most critical things are, investing in micro-crops like algae that are more productive and making sure we back solutions that are commercially viable and sustainable.

Gov. Linda Lingle named three recipients of the Governor's Innovation Awards including HR BioPetroleum for their commitment to creative thinking and new ideas which result in better products, services and processes.

HRBP is a Hawaii-based renewable energy technology company focused on utilizing marine microalgae to produce biofuel feedstocks and other valuable products. The company developed a proprietary process called ALDUO technology that leverages the photosynthetic power and rapid growth characteristics of microalgae to convert sunlight, CO2, and other nutrients into inexpensive vegetable oils and biomass. HRBP's algae cultivation technology has been demonstrated through a pilot facility on the Kona Coast of the Big Island.

Bionavitas, a Redmond-based company developing ways to grow algae to create biofuels, nutritional supplements and an environmentally friendly way to clean up pollution.Bionavitas is self-funded by its founders, and several angel investors also have provided funding.The company's leaders say they are looking for outside investors — including venture capitalists — and hoping for money from the federal economic-stimulus package.

Bionavitas proposes to place thin glass rods inside a pond or container and let light from the surface travel down the rod.Each rod transmits solar energy beneath the surface, allowing algae to grow at depths otherwise darkened by surface-growing organisms.

Bionavitas said it hopes to sell its light technology to other firms producing algae for biofuel.

It also plans to use the light rods itself for growing algae that can soak up heavy metals and other contaminants at old mining sites.