Cambridge Company That Grows Fuel To Build Facility In New Mexico
CAMBRIDGE (AP) - A Massachusetts company that has invented a genetically-engineered organism that converts sunlight, water and carbon dioxide directly into fuel is building its first production facility in New Mexico.
Joule Unlimited of Cambridge on Thursday announced the lease agreement with Lea County for 1,200 acres, with potential to expand to 5,000 acres. They say Lea County has access to the needed solar energy, non-potable water and waste carbon dioxide.
Joule chief executive Bill Sims says it's a first step toward demonstrating the technology at various sites. Joule proclaims their technology could change the world, but skeptics want to see it work on a large scale.
Joule says its organism secretes a product identical to ethanol and the components of diesel fuel for $30 per barrel. Similar technologies with algae use biomass and are more costly and complicated.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
