Dr. Richard Sayre, one of the nation’s leading biofuels researchers, has been named director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, the company reports.

Enterprise created the Institute in 2007 with a $25 million gift from the company’s founding family, the Taylors of St. Louis, to support development of renewable energy sources. The Taylors own Enterprise, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car.

“Just as we are committed to using our fleet to grow the market for commercially viable new fuels and engine technologies, we believe it is important to play a role in the search for sustainable, renewable fuels that can curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependency on finite fossil fuels,” said Andy Taylor, chairman and chief executive officer of Enterprise. “Dr. Sayre and his team bring tremendous leadership to this effort.”

Much of the work to be done by Dr. Sayre and his team of 10 researchers will focus on using algae to produce “third-generation” biofuels that someday could be used on a large scale to power cars, trucks and aircraft. This complements the larger body of biofuels research underway at the Danforth Center.

“For Enterprise, our company’s success depends on the availability of vehicles and fuel, and both must be acceptable to society,” Taylor says. “That’s why we are taking steps now to invest in the future, as part of our commitment to sustain our business by addressing the parts of the world we touch with our business.”

More about Enterprise’s environmental stewardship efforts can be found online at keystogreen.com.