Mountain View, California-based Cobalt Technologies on Tuesday launched its first facility for the commercialization of biobutanol as a renewable fuel and chemical.
Cobalt’s form of biobutanol (n-butanol) can be
used as a standalone fuel; blended with gasoline, diesel and ethanol;
converted into jet fuel or plastics, or sold as is for use in paints
and coatings. Butanol packs more energy than ethanol and is less
polluting. In addition, it is a drop-in fuel, and is fully compatible
with today’s automobile engines and pipeline infrastructure.
Cobalt
uses non-food feedstock, such as forest waste and mill residues. The company says
its technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 85% compared
to gasoline. A 12% blend of Cobalt biobutanol with gasoline,
already permissible under US EPA guidelines, complies with the
requirements of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Based on the technology breakthroughs we have achieved, and
the successful operation of our plant, we are on track to build a
commercial facility within two years, and we are currently building a
network of strategic partners in the fuels, chemicals, forest products,
and construction industry to deploy our technology at the next scale," said Rick Wilson, Ph.D., CEO of Cobalt
Biofuels. The Governor’s leadership in clean technology policy, like the proposed
sales tax exemption for green manufacturing equipment will help
accelerate commercialization and make California an attractive place to
site a plant."
Cobalt said one of its commercial-scale plants would employ 1,300 permanent jobs at the plant and in the surrounding area.
Cobalt is backed by Pinnacle Ventures, Vantage Point Venture Partners, Burrill
and Company, Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund, Life Science
Partners (LSP), @Ventures, and Harris & Harris.
"It is great companies like Cobalt that will help California meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets under AB 32 and our Low Carbon Fuel Standard," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Cobalt shows us that what is good for the environment can also be good for the economy. In fact, within the next few years, Cobalt has plans to build an even larger plant that will create 1,300 permanent jobs. I want that plant and those jobs right here in California. That’s why, in my State of the State address, I announced a Jobs Initiative that we estimate could create 100,000 jobs with one piece of this proposal exempting the purchase of green-tech manufacturing equipment from the sales tax. This proposal will help California attract and retain green businesses and create the jobs of the future. I want every CEO, entrepreneur and innovator to know that if you’re investing in a cleaner future, California will invest in you."
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