Algae-to-biodiesel projects OK’d

A bill that would expand the state’s definition of renewable energy sources to include biofuels made from algae and similar technologies is on its way to the governor’s desk.

HF2903/SF2996*, sponsored by Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview) and Sen. Sandy Rummel (DFL-White Bear Lake), was passed 130-0 by the House on April 28. The Senate passed it 66-0 on April 3.

The bill would expand the statutory definition of renewable energy sources to include “the predominantly organic components of wastewater effluent, sludge, or related byproducts from publicly owned treatment works, but not including incineration of wastewater sludge to produce electricity.”

In layman’s terms, it would pave the way for the use of biodiesel produced from algae — a technology being developed at the University of Minnesota, among other places. Researchers hope to find a cost-effective way to use wastewater from municipal sewage treatment plants, which is rich in phosphorus and other effluents, to grow algae that could then be used as biomass to produce fuel.

Gardner said that although algal biofuel projects provided the impetus for the bill, it is conceivable that other energy-related uses could be found for wastewater.

“Just the algae was what it’s intended for, but if something else comes along, we certainly could look at it,” he said.

Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) called algal biofuels “an exciting prospect” and noted that the U.S. Department of Defense is sponsoring projects to develop jet fuel from algae.