MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Cobalt Technologies, the leader in commercializing biobutanol as a renewable fuel and chemical, has formally launched its first facility. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Silicon Valley cleantech leaders were on hand.

 

“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.”

 

Cobalt biobutanol is good for California and the world. Cobalt uses non-food feedstock, such as forest waste and mill residues, and its technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent compared to gasoline. A 12 percent blend of Cobalt biobutanol with gasoline, already permissible under US EPA guidelines, complies with the requirements of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

 

Cobalt’s form of biobutanol (n-butanol) is very versatile. It 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 is leading the race to bring economic next generation biofuels to market,” said Rick Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Cobalt Biofuels. “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. 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.”