KAILUA-KONA>>- Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is praising the work of several Big Island businesses for helping diversify the state’s economy and creating high-quality jobs.

Lingle toured three businesses Tuesday at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority on the Big Island.

At Cellana, a joint project between Royal Dutch Shell and HR Biopetroleum, Lingle saw how scientists and engineers are growing algae for biofuel byproducts. She says replacing using more biofuels is one way to cut the state’s dependence on foreign oil.

Another company, Kona Blue, showed Lingle tanks of Kona Kampachi fingerlings and told her about the importance of the aquaculture industry.

The third company was Koyo USA Corp., which desalinates and bottles water mostly for a Japanese market.