COMMUNITY LEADERS TO TOUR SAPPHIRE ENERGY LAS CRUCES

on Oct 27th, 2011
Tags: News

September 22, 2011                                                            

COMMUNITY LEADERS TO TOUR SAPPHIRE ENERGY LAS CRUCES
TEST AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

WHAT:       On Monday, September 26^th, Mesilla Valley community leaders will tour Sapphire Energy’s test and development facility in Las Cruces’ West Mesa Industrial Park. Sapphire is working to commercialize “green crude”—a renewable petroleum replacement that is produced from algae, sunlight and CO2.  Sapphire Energy believes that algae will become a very substantial agricultural crop, and make a major difference to the world’s energy balance. 

Representatives of the media are invited to join the tour.

Las Cruces City Councilor Nathan Small arranged Monday’s tour because Sapphire has brought jobs, investment, and energy to the community. Through close partnerships and cooperation, Sapphire and the community are helping build and grow an industry with local benefits and international implications.

Sapphire Vice President Corporate Affairs Tim Zenk will be available to discuss Sapphire’s involvement in economic development in the Las Cruces area, including jobs and local partnerships.

WHEN:         Monday, September 26, 2011

8:45 – 10:30 am

WHERE:       Sapphire Energy Test and Development Site, 9035 Advancement Avenue, West Mesa Industrial Park, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007 

WHO:         John Munoz, Hispano Chamber

Bill Allen, Las Cruces Chamber

Mellow Honek, Green Chamber

Davin Lopez, MVEDA

Craig Buchanan, MVEDA

Dr. Abbas Ghassemi, NMSU

Richard Majestic, Hi Tech Consortium

Nathan Small, Las Cruces City Council

Sharon Thomas, Las Cruces City Council

Billy Garrett, Doña Ana County Commission

Karen Perez, Doña Ana County Commission

Tim Zenk, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Sapphire Energy

 CONTACT:   Jan Johnson,

Alice Martinez, Sapphire Energy,

Nathan Small, District 4 Las Cruces City Councilor,

About Sapphire Energy:
San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Green Crude can be refined into the three most important liquid fuels used by our society: gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The fuels meet ASTM standards and are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Re-Investment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

For more information: visit www.sapphireenergy.comand www.las-cruces.orgor

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sapphireenergy

Visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/SapphireEnergyVideo.