Renewable Energy producing Renewable Energy

Alganomics has added new alternative energy sources to their culturing systems and process.  As a result of their 2009 NC Green Business Fund grant award, Alganomics has added a solar system and hybrid windmills.  The project focused on ways to conserve energy, utilize renewable energy and reduce the carbon footprint.  This funding source was a conversion from State of NC funds to Federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Stimulus funds.  Cape Fear Solar Systems of Wilmington, NC was the subcontractor, who was very much a partner in making the solar system happen.  We would like to thank all of those hard working folks with the Board of Science & Technology, under the NC Dept. of Commerce, for their patience and support!

Science Cafe

The public is invited to attend the first Brunswick County Science Cafe.  Hallmarks of a good Science Cafe are a casual atmosphere, interesting topic and stimulating conversation.  Please join us for a presentation by Brunswick Community College's Dr. Kim Jones on "Biofuels" Monday, February 6, 2012.  The venue is the Mexico Viejo Bar and Grill, near the Harris Teeter in Leland, NC.  For more information on Science Cafes, please visit  http://www.sciencecafes.org/. This Science Cafe is sponsored by the Brunswick County Early College High School. 

Visit Alganomics' Displays

Alganomics will be busy participating in several community events. Come visit us at the Oak Island 1st Crawl Festival this Saturday, May 14th from 10 AM until 2 PM. For more information, visit the Town's website announcements at www.oakislandnc.com/announcements.asp .
If you miss that fun and informative event, then come see us at Wilmington's Cape Fear Museum, "Energy Quest" event on Saturday, May 21st from 10 AM until 4 PM. For more information, visit their website at www.capefearmuseum.com/index.php?flag=family_event_energy .

Amazing Oak Island!

Alganomics has been working collaboratively with the Town of Oak Island for two years. As negotiations with the City of Southport did not move forward, Alganomics chose to see how the current project could be expanded into the SMART (Sustainable Mariculture and Renewable Technologies) concept. Upon inquiry, it was found that Oak Island has been very progressive and proactive with their "green" initiatives. They have an active Green Initiatives Advisory Board, who have already undertaken some great projects, such as the septic to cistern project. The Town is also working to acheive the NC League of Municipalities' Green Challenge. Alganomics presented the SMART Enterprise proposal to the Green Initiatives Advisory Board, who approved it and recommended it to the Town Council. Dr. Kim Jones of Alganomics presented at the May 10th Town Council meeting, where SMART was unanimously approved by the Town Council. Absolutely everyone with Oak Island has been amazing with their support and encouragement! Expansion will take place in Bill Smith Park, which is adjacent to the current location. Stay tuned for great things to come from this exciting collaborative project, with the Town of Oak Island. 
For more information, see the article in the Wilmington Star News http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110510/ARTICLES/110519963 
or the interview with WECT News at http://www.wect.com/category/195960/video-landing-page?clipId=5844233&autostart=true&redirected=true .                                                                             

Southport's SMART Enterprise Proposal

Economic development is on the minds of us all, as our nation all the way down to our cities, look for economic recovery. Revitalizing the city of Southport is becoming a common mantra for those who love our maritime city, here on the coast of North Carolina. The Southport Maritime Museum has never seen such terrific support, as it holds the hope of improving our local economy. How about not only celebrating our past maritime economy, but creating a sustainable maritime future?

The City of Southport has closed its wastewater treatment plant (WTP), located at 901 W. West Street. A proposal is before the Board of Aldermen, which is called Southport’s SMART (Sustainable Mariculture And Renewable Technologies) Enterprise. The proposal is to retool the WTP toward mariculture and renewable energy, as a green business incubator and research park. The relatively hidden plant can be transformed by utilizing the tanks and pumps for aquaculture. Local fish, such as flounder or black sea bass, could be cultured to restock our natural waters or for local, organic dining. Algae, which naturally clean the water, can also be cultured. Algae biomass can be used for bioproduct research, which may include biofuels, bioplastic, animal feed, nutraceuticals, etc.

What makes this site so unique, other than the infrastructure which can be retooled, and saltwater access, and mariculture potential that can actually put the water back into the waterway cleaner than it receives it? It already has a beautiful wind turbine conducting research onsite and is located in a natural wind corridor. Alganomics already has a stimulus fund grant to install solar panels to their photobioreactors, which can be located onsite. Alganomics is also currently working on a Biofuels Center of NC grant, researching algae for biofuels. It is a perfect storm of economic potential in clean technologies!

What’s in it for the City of Southport?
• Maintains ownership of valuable property for future generations
• No financial obligations for the City
• Local job creation and workforce development
• Local food and energy production, decentralization of resources
• Economic development in a growing clean tech sector
• Environmental stewardship
• Reuse/recycle infrastructure and equipment onsite
• Promotion of Southport’s maritime heritage in the seafood industry
• High interest topic for tourism
• Educational opportunity for K-12 and internships with regional colleges & universities
• Model for public-private collaborations
• Potential for significant revenue source through long-term lease agreement and renewable energy tax credit return
• Grant opportunities for site improvements
• High profile, positive promotion for the City and State

The North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) is asking member cities and towns to participate in their Green Challenge or to strive for higher certification in the program. The NCLM Green Challenge recognizes the commitment of cities and towns to preserve natural resources and the many innovative and exciting projects underway to save energy, resources and money. This win-win SMART Enterprise could garner an advanced certification for the City of Southport! For more information, please visit http://www.nclm.org/programs-services/Pages/Green-Challenge.aspx .

The current request is for the Southport Board of Aldermen to allow a portion of the property to be utilized for the period of one year, while they review a long-term waterfront development plan. A longer term commitment by the City would create more opportunity for successes to be developed. Alganomics, LLC is a local entrepreneurial, sustainable business founded by Dr. Kimberly Jones, with her husband Scott Jones, as the Project Manager. Two items make this proposal a bit time sensitive. There is potential to submit a NC Green Business Fund grant proposal for the Enterprise, but the due date is March 30th. Alganomics must also begin its ARRA (stimulus fund) grant immediately. As Alganomics is outgrowing its current location at the Oak Island Biological Treatment and Reuse Water Facility, it would like to begin the solar panel installation and not create the need to move it immediately. For more information on Alganomics, please visit http://algaeresource.com/ .

Can you imagine local art students painting the concrete tanks with a maritime mural, high school and community college students participating in internships, ecotourism flourishing, state and national recognitions, job creation, educational workshops and so much more, all in one project? Please help support this project to the City of Southport Board of Aldermen, by contacting them or coming to the next meeting on March 10th (http://www.cityofsouthport.com/cityofficials.htm).

Alganomics Graduates from UNC's 2010 BASE Program

Alganomics graduates from the 2010 Business Accelerator for Sustainable Entrepreneurship (BASE) Program at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
BASE connects entrepreneurs to a range of sustainability resources—from expertise to capital—to accelerate their growth and impact. Business were chosen via a competitive process, which took place in the fall of 2009. Throughout the year of 2010, the administration of Alganomics traveled to Chapel Hill for mentorship and sustainable business resources through workshops and presentations. In February of 2011, Alganonomics was presented with a certificate of completion for the BASE Program.

BASE is one of the first business incubators designed specifically to support businesses that address the triple-bottom-line of financial profitability, social equity and environmental sustainability. The Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE) at UNC Kenan-Flagler created the interdisciplinary UNC program in 2008. Its goal is to develop businesses that provide environmental and social solutions that model green business practices. It aims to strengthen communities across the state by growing innovative, scalable green ventures and building the knowledge, talent and skill of North Carolinians. BASE works to ensure the firms’ long-term success by providing expertise and resources during the crucial start-up phase. It assists a wide network of entrepreneurs by providing access to business coaching, workshops and training, and a network of entrepreneurs, investors and small-business experts. The Aspen Institute’s survey, “Beyond Grey Pinstripes” ranks UNC Kenan-Flagler one of the top business schools in the world for education in this arena. To find out more about BASE visit http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/cse/BASE/index.cfm .

Governor Perdue and Biotechnology

Governor Beverly Perdue visits UNC-Wilmington's Center for Marine Science, in a rare visit to the southeast region. Alganomics' Dr. Kim Jones was one of a handful of small business leaders invited to attend. Dr. Jones had the opportunity to personally thank the Governor for her NC Green Business Fund grant program. Governor Perdue expressed the need to keep pushing for new jobs, while competing on the world stage in biotechnology. She toured the Center for Marine Science and heard first-hand of the entrepreneurial business support provided by the University. For more, please visit http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=13583277