First cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant comes on line in Louisiana

Verenium announced last week its 1.4 million gallon cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant is ready for operation in Jennings, Louisiana. The company has begun its commissioning phase "allowing the Company to evaluate its process for making ethanol at scale and validate cost and performance assumptions to prepare for the development of its first series of commercial plants." This development continues Verenium's progress towards its goal of a 30 million gallon per year commercial plant next year. The company will use specialty enzymes to convert non-food biomass, specifically agricultural waste from sugarcane, into fuel. The full press release can be found here.