Washington State Department of Ecology Awards Seattle’s Blue Marble Energy Contract to Remove Toxic Algae From Puget Sound Beaches

SEATTLE, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ — As human activity triggers more and more blooms of stinking, toxic algae known as “sea lettuce” around scenic Puget Sound, Blue Marble Energy Corp. announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Washington State Department of Ecology to help clean up part of the mess. And, as it does, Blue Marble Energy will provide a solution to an even larger challenge: converting this problematic algae into energy and bio-chemicals that displace petroleum products.

The contract calls for Blue Marble Energy Corp. (BME) to remove noxious algae from the beaches and waters of Dumas Bay in Federal Way and Fauntleroy Cove south of Alki Point. As the algae dies, it emits hydrogen sulfide and consumes oxygen, which can kill fish and other marine life, as well as emitting a foul rotten-egg odor that renders the beach effectively unusable. By removing the invasive algae, BME will preserve aquatic habitat, lessen the emission of greenhouse gases and create valuable products from an environmental problem.

The blooms at Dumas Bay and Fauntleroy Cove are the identical species of algae (Ulva) which nearly swamped the Olympic sailing regatta at Qingdao bay near Beijing. That massive bloom covered 13,000 square kilometers and required 130,000 volunteers to remove.

Blue Marble Energy Corp., based in Seattle, is a bio-energy company that performs multiple business functions. It collects (harvests) nuisance algae, usually under contract either to public jurisdictions or private manufacturing concerns. It then treats the algae with a proprietary process to yield a wide range of high-value energy and industrial products, including biogas, organic acids, anhydrous ammonia (nitrogen, or fertilizer), and even biocrude. The process, known as AGATE (Acid Gas and Ammonia Targeted Extraction) was developed by BME scientists.

Blue Marble Energy is working closely with partner David Evans & Associates on this project, which provides BME with permitting, regulatory compliance and environmental fisheries biology support. DEA will monitor aquatic species by-catch and ensure as little environmental impact as possible from the operation.

For More Information: http://www.bluemarbleenergy.net/

Blue Marble Energy Corp.

CONTACT: Mark Briant of Blue Marble Energy Corp., +1-206-930-6661,mark.briant@bluemarbleenergy.net

Web site: http://www.bluemarbleenergy.net/