First Cellulosic Ethanol Demonstration Plant in U.S.

With the desire to obtain cleaner-burning fuel, the rise of energy costs, and concerns over dependence on foreign oil, more companies are turning to biofuels as a home-grown energy alternative. We are proud to have helped our client, Verenium Corporation of Cambridge, Massachusetts, build the first demonstration plant in the United States for the production of cellulosic ethanol. The plant, located near Jennings, Louisiana, was dedicated in May 2008 and by fall 2008 should enter full scale production of up to 1.4 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. The plant will make cellulosic ethanol from sugar cane waste (bagasse) and energy cane, a less sugary fibrous cane grown specifically for this purpose. Verenium has plans for three major commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plants to be located in Louisiana, Texas and Florida.

Van Ness Feldman represents Verenium with respect to federal biofuels policy, federal grants and loan guarantees, and various issues with respect to Louisiana and Florida.