The U.S. Department of Energy has invited BlueFire Ethanol Fuels,
Inc. (OTCBB: BFRE) to participate in its loan guarantee program,
which will provide federal loan guarantees for clean energy
projects and is expected to spur further investment in these
advanced energy technologies.
As one of 143 project applicants who previously submitted
pre-applications to the loan guarantee program, BlueFire Ethanol,
Inc., along with 15 others, was recognized for its proposed third
California-based project to build a commercial-scale cellulosic
ethanol plant using an array of low-cost feedstocks including
landfill waste.
"The Department of Energy's continued encouragement of BlueFire
Ethanol's innovative clean energy technology is a key step toward
full-scale commercial production of cellulosic ethanol and a
testament to the management team's work over the past 15 years to
deploy an economic cellulosic ethanol technology using an array of
low-cost cellulosic waste feedstocks," said BlueFire Ethanol CEO
Arnold Klann. "We look forward to continuing to work with the DOE
as they pave their way to energy independence by supporting the
exploration of clean energy supplies and supporting new
technologies designed to economically utilize those
resources."
The projects in the Loan Guarantee Program include advanced
technologies involving the uses of biomass, fossil energy, solar,
industrial energy efficiency, electricity delivery and energy
reliability, hydrogen, and alternative fuel vehicles. Supported by
loan guarantees, selected projects will help fulfill President
Bush's goal of reducing our reliance on imported sources of energy
by diversifying our nation's energy mix and increasing energy
efficiency. More information about the Loan Guarantee Program can
be found at http://www.energy.gov/news/5568.htm.
BlueFire Ethanol is also one of six ethanol companies awarded
funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for their planned
ethanol production facility co-located adjacent to a landfill in
Corona, California. The facility will produce approximately 17
million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from green waste,
wood waste and other cellulosic urban wastes.
In addition to the El Sobrante project, BlueFire expects to obtain
all necessary permits to commence construction of a smaller
facility near Lancaster California late this year. The Lancaster
plant will produce 3.1 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per
year from the cellulosic fraction of post-sorted municipal solid
waste. By locating biorefineries directly in the markets with the
highest demand for ethanol, BlueFire Ethanol's technology can also
help cities manage landfill waste -- solving two problems for the
price of one.
BlueFire Ethanol holds the exclusive North American license to
employ the Arkenol Process Technology, a patented, commercially
viable and profitable system that transforms cellulosic waste into
usable ethanol. As a result, BlueFire is uniquely positioned to set
the industry standard in converting waste materials -- such as wood
waste, green waste, straw, switchgrass, and corn stover -- into
ethanol.
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