Government blesses algae fuel

FORT MYERS - Algenol says the government has approved its algae-generated fuels for use by refiners to comply with renewable fuel standards.

Fort Myers-based Algenol produces fuels such as ethanol, gasoline, jet, and diesel for around $1.30 per gallon using algae, sunlight, carbon dioxide and saltwater. The company says it can produce 8,000 total gallons of liquid fuel per acre per year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says fuel blenders and refiners can buy Algenol's fuels to comply with the Clean Air Act's renewable-fuel standards.