WASHINGTON, D.C.///December 8, 2009///New data highlighted in public for the first time today paint an even grimmer picture of the late December 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, according to the Environmental Integrity Project.  Reports filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) show that the TVA’s Kingston coal plant dumped into the Emory River in 2008 an estimated 140,000 pounds of arsenic contained in coal ash — more than twice the reported amount of the toxin discharged into U.S. waterways from all U.S. power plants in 2007.

The new Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data submitted to the EPA by TVA also show that the Kingston ash spill deposited nearly 320 tons of vanadium in the Emory River, or more than seven times the total discharge of this toxic pollutant from all power plants in 2007. The Kingston facility singlehandedly discharged more than of chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel into the Emory River last year than reported discharges of those pollutants from the entire U.S. power industry in 2007.

The EIP analysis of the new TVA data finds a total of 2.66 million pounds of 10 toxic pollutants – arsenic, barium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, vanadium and zinc.    That compares to the much lower 2.04 million pounds of such discharges from all U.S. power plants into surface waters in 2007.   The 2.66 million pound of toxic pollutants dumped into the Emory River in 2008 is nearly 45 times higher than the 59,950 pounds of such materials the TVA reported that released into all U.S. waterways in 2007.  To see a detailed chart comparing the TVA versus all U.S. power plant toxic pollution levels, go tohttp://www.environmentalintegrity.org.

Arsenic and other toxic metals were contained in the estimated one billion gallons of coal ash that spilled when the Kingston impoundment dikes burst on December 22, 2008.  These toxic pollutants are hazardous to the health of humans, fish and other aquatic life.

Eric Schaeffer, director, Environmental Integrity Project, said: “Toxic metals are notoriously difficult to clean up from ground and surface waters and the aquatic ecosystem.  Although TVA has reported that it will spend close to a billion dollars to clean up the Kingston site, it remains to be seen whether this cleanup will be effective.  In addition, TVA owns nearly 3,000 acres of ash ponds at its other coal plants in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, four of which are rated as ‘high hazard’ sites by U.S. EPA.   These ash disposal sites also leak their toxic cargo into groundwater, or discharge it directly into rivers, creeks and lakes as runoff or through permitted outfalls.  Until the EPA takes action, there are no federal rules setting standards for the safe disposal of ash, or limiting the discharge of toxic ash leachate into our waterways.”

Schaeffer added:  “EPA is expected to finally propose standards for ash disposal sites by the end of December, and has promised to require the industry to meet Clean Water standards for limiting toxic discharges that were supposed to take effect twenty five years ago.  Let’s hope these overdue regulations lead to the shutdown of unsafe and outdated ash ponds like the one that burst its banks in Tennessee one year ago this month.”

Donna Lisenby, Appalachian Voices and Watuaga Riverkeeper, said:  ”The enormous increase in heavy metals discharged by TVA is very troubling. First, many of these metals bio-accumulate and pose significant risks to human and environmental health. Second, TVA has repeatedly attempted to hide the potential toxicity of the coal ash. For example, TVA’s Anda Ray said to 60 Minutes host Leslie Stahl, ‘I’d say that the constituents, the things that are in the coal ash, are the same things that are naturally occurring in soil and rock.’ But if you compare Kingston discharges from 2007 to 2008 you see an astronomical increase in at least 10 very dangerous metals. If it wasn’t for EIP bringing the data and facts forward, the public would never learn the truth from TVA.”

Charles H. Norris, P.G., Geo-Hydro, Inc., Denver, said: “It is impossible to quantify the amount of toxic metals released from Kingston’s toxic coal ash into the Emory River before settling to the bottom of the river, and how much more may be released over time. Sampling by the state of Tennessee, Appalachian State University and environmental organizations in the weeks after the spill documented levels of arsenic and other pollutants in the river that exceeded water quality standards for human health and aquatic toxicity.  More recent samples by the state of Tennessee appear to show lower levels of arsenic and other metals at water quality monitoring stations.  Such improvement does not represent permanent isolation of these metals.  Chemical gradients will move them with time.  As the Emory River is dredged to help reduce the volume of toxic ash in the river, toxic metals like arsenic may leach into the water from any remaining ash on the river bottom over time, carrying
contaminants further downstream, e.g., into the Clinch or Tennessee Rivers.”

Currently, there are no federal rules setting standards for the safe disposal of ash or limiting the discharge of toxic leachate into our waterways. EPA has announced that it will propose regulations for disposal of coal ash by the end of 2009.

HEALTH ISSUES FROM TOXIC POLLUTANTS

Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen. Arsenic is also linked to cardiovascular and dermal effects, encephalopathy, and peripheral neuropathy.

Barium can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and muscular weakness. Ingesting large amounts of barium, dissolved in water, can change heart rhythm, and can cause paralysis and possibly death.

Chromium VI is a known human carcinogen. Chromium VI exposure has also caused stomach tumors in humans and animals. High levels can cause harmful effects such as irritation of the nose, mouth and eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and even death.

Exposure to high levels of manganese can affect the nervous system. Very high levels of manganese may impair brain development in children.

High mercury levels can permanently damage the brain and other organs. Mercury can harm developing fetus, causing brain damage, mental retardation, blindness, seizures, and inability to speak.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that some nickel compounds are carcinogenic to humans and that metallic nickel may possibly be carcinogenic to humans. Although impacts from ingestion are unclear, workers who breathed vanadium suffered lung irritation, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, runny nose, and a sore throat. Ingesting large doses even for a short time can cause cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Inhaling large amounts of zinc can cause a short-term disease called metal fume fever.

ABOUT EIP

The Environmental Integrity Project (http://www.environmentalintegrity.org) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in March of 2002 by former EPA enforcement attorneys to advocate for effective enforcement of environmental laws. EIP has three goals: 1) to provide objective analyses of how the failure to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and affects public health; 2) to hold federal and state agencies, as well as individual corporations, accountable for failing to enforce or comply with environmental laws; and 3) to help local communities obtain the protection of environmental laws.

A streaming audio replay of the news event will be available on the Web at http://www.environmentalintegrity.orgas of 6 p.m. EST on December 8, 2009.
by:  Ailis Aaron Wolf, aawolf@hastingsgroup.com

Washington, DC – Today, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for the immediate withdrawal of approvals for all animal drug applications for arsenic-containing compounds used in animal feed.  These additives are commonly used in poultry production to induce faster weight gain and create the appearance of a healthy color in meat from chickens, turkeys and hogs.  The petition was supported by a coalition of food and farm groups around the country.

“The fact that arsenic - a known and powerful carcinogen - in these feed additives leads to arsenic residue in chicken is now well known,” said the Center for Food Safety’s Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell. “FDA’s failure to investigate the mounting evidence that these compounds are unsafe is a breach of the public trust, and the use of arsenic-containing compounds in food animal production is a needless and dangerous risk to human health.”

“Arsenic can be poisonous. Its use in animal feed, therefore, is unnecessarily risky and has not been shown to be safe given the latest science,” said David Wallinga, M.D. of the IATP. “To best protect public health, all avoidable exposures to arsenic should be eliminated. FDA can and should act.”

Arsenic-containing compounds have been approved additives to animal feed since the

1940s and are currently used in chicken, turkey and swine production.  Most arsenic-containing animal feed additives are not used to treat sickness.  Instead, arsenicals are generally approved for “increased weight gain, improved feed efficiency, and improved pigmentation.”  The European Union has never approved the use of arsenicals in animal feed, acknowledging the lack of science supporting health or safety standards for such use.

Arsenic-containing compounds are most widely used in chicken production, and most chickens receive arsenic-laced feed. In 2004 and 2005, the IATP tested for total arsenic in retail packages of raw chicken and in “fast food” chicken sandwiches and nuggets. Test results revealed detectable levels of arsenic in the majority of both supermarket and fast food chicken with higher levels found in brands of chicken raised conventionally.  Lower or non-detectable levels of arsenic were found in certified organic and other “premium” brands where the use of arsenic-containing feed additives were either legally prohibited or claimed not to have been used. These results strongly suggest that use of arsenic-containing compounds in poultry feed leads to arsenic residues in U.S.marketed and eaten chicken.

Two weeks ago, U.S. Representative Steve Israel of New York announced legislation calling for a ban on the use of the arsenical compound roxarsone in poultry feed. His bill, the “Poison-Free Poultry Act of 2009,” would prohibit all uses of roxarsone as a food additive in poultry.  The groups applaud the bill, but maintain that it does not go far enough.  Their petition not only calls for a ban on roxarsone, but also on Arsanilic acid, Nitarsone, and Carbarsone, commonly used compounds which contain arsenicals.

The groups include: Food Animal Concerns Trust, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, San Francisco Physicians for Social Responsibility, Food and Water Watch, Center for Biological Diversity, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Center for Environmental Health, Institute for a Sustainable Future, Health Care Without Harm and Ecology Center of Michigan.

To read the full petition, visit: http://www.healthobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=107024.

For IATP’s report, visit: Playing Chicken: Avoiding Arsenic in Your Meat, visit:http://www.iatp.org/iatp/publications.cfm?accountID=421&refID=80529.

The Center for Food Safety is national, non-profit, membership organization, founded in 1997, that works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. On the web at: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy works locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. On the web at: www.iatp.org

“The ENERGY STAR® label is a critical tool for consumers looking to save energy and money with their appliances,” said DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris.  “We have found that these refrigerator-freezer models do not deliver the energy and cost savings promised under the ENERGY STAR® program, so we are taking the necessary steps to protect the American public.”

In November 2008, DOE and LG entered into an Agreement that was intended to let LG transition away from test procedures that significantly underestimated the amount of energy that certain LG French-door refrigerator-freezers would consume during normal use.  Because recent testing confirms that problems persist, DOE has exercised its right to give notice and terminate the Agreement.  As a result, effective January 2, 2010, certain LG French-door refrigerators are no longer eligible to carry the ENERGY STAR® label.

ENERGY STAR® is a voluntary program sponsored through DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that promotes the development and sale of energy efficient products. The labels associated with the program inform consumers of the most energy efficient products in a particular product category.  Making sure that the labels are applied only to products that deliver on the promised energy and cost savings protects consumers, ensures an even playing field in the marketplace, and reduces pollution.

As a result of DOE’s efforts to protect consumers, LG has now sued the Department of Energy.  Harris explained, “We intend to defend the Department’s actions in federal court and to prove that the law of the United States does not give LG any right to continue using the ENERGY STAR® label in a way that could impose unexpected costs upon American families and unjustly disadvantage manufacturers of more energy efficient products.”

Additional Resources: Explore the interactive
map to see Cisco’s regional CSR initiatives worldwide Visit Justmeans to
engage in further conversation around Cisco’s Corporate Social
Responsibility Report 2009View videos from the 2009 CSR report:Hear Simon Tedessa’s personal story about using money he was given by
his father to take swimming lessons and to launch an ICT career:
http://www.youtube.com/v/V0OuYXnw2pw&hl=en_US&fs=1& Watch a video of the New York iSchool initiative which provides
leading-edge education techniques to model four-year high schools.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xUIEUP1pvYI&hl=en_US&fs=1& Kathy Mulvany, Cisco’s director of sustainable business practices,
discusses new elements of Cisco’s CSR report and the company’s CSR
strategy.
http://www.youtube.com/v/_p0CNTQJZKc&hl=en_US&fs=1&Quotes:
Tae
Yoo, Cisco senior vice president, Corporate Affairs
“As a global corporate citizen, Cisco’s support of multiyear collaborative
partnerships with government and nongovernmental organizations assists our
commitment to addressing real community needs while making a lasting impact
on the future. Our 2009 CSR report incorporates an infusion of ideas from
these groups as well as from our partners, employees, shareholders and
customers. We are delighted to share our approach, progress, and the work
still to be done as we continue on our CSR journey.”

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by: Robyn Jenkins-Blum, rojenkin@cisco.com

The petition asks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdrawMaryland’s delegated authority to administer the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) pollution permitting program for dischargers in the state. Under the CWA, EPA retains ultimate authority to monitor and control point source discharges of pollutants across the nation through its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program; the Agency typically delegates this authority to the states for implementation. In the petition, filed on behalf of the Waterkeepers by the Universityof Maryland Environmental Law Clinic, Waterkeepers request that the EPA evaluate the systematic failure of Maryland’s Department of the Environment to properly and effectively administer and enforce the CWA’s NPDES permitting program.

Organizations represented in the petition include: Anacostia Riverkeeper,Assateague Coastkeeper, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, Chester Riverkeeper, Choptank Riverkeeper, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Patuxent Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper, Sassafras Riverkeeper, Severn Riverkeeper, South Riverkeeper, West/Rhode Riverkeeper, and Waterkeeper Alliance.

“If you want to see proof of the failure of Maryland to enforce the CWA within its borders, look no further than the spiraling health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Michele Merkel, Waterkeepers Chesapeake regional Coordinator “Over the last twelve years, MDE has failed to properly administer the CWA in countless ways as evidenced by the many examples in our petition.  The Agency has been unable to draft and approve robust NPDES permits and has failed to comprehensibly enforce the program. By submitting this petition, we hope to encourage all parties to come together and find ways to improve the program and, ultimately, provide all Marylandcitizens with cleaner, healthier waterways.”

To bring about an effective level of oversight, the Petitioners propose the following solutions:

• The enforcement of mandatory minimum penalties to help the MDE acquire much needed funds as well as to create a true deterrent factor;
• A chronic violator law to place mounting consequences on repeat violators;
• Increased NPDES fees that recoup the costs of permitting and enforcement;
• Electronically-available permitting and enforcement information that will facilitate transparency and save the state money in filing costs over time;
• Creation of an Ombudsman office in Maryland to help citizens navigate government departments and obtain information more quickly;
• More EPA oversight in order to hold MDE accountable for failures;
• Stop the regular practice of state takeover of federal Clean Water Act citizen suits and agreeing to lax and ineffectual settlement terms with the polluters. Allowing citizens to do what is contemplated under the CWA will also free up scare MDE resources.

The petition comes at a time when there is renewed vigor in the EPA’s approach to state regulation. In a recent interview with The Times-Picayune, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said, “Many of these state programs are 20, 30 years old, and we might even need to hit the reset button and say, ‘OK, we’re going to hold you to a standard. If you’re doing your job, great, but if you’re not, we’re going to be here going inside until you are’”.

“It’s EPA’s job to oversee,” Jackson continued. “We often say we’re partners, but we’re also delegating our authority to a state, and of course, ultimately that means your ultimate answer would be to take it back,” she said, indicating the EPA’s willingness in extreme situations to revoke a state’s authority to administer federal pollution laws.

Waterkeepers Chesapeake of Maryland is a coalition of the twelve independent Waterkeeper programs in Maryland working to protect and restore the Chesapeakeand Coastal Bays and their tributaries. Waterkeepers Chesapeake of MD works locally, using grassroots action and advocacy to protect their communities and their waters. They also work regionally to share resources and leverage their individual strengths to expand each Waterkeeper’s capacity for on the water, citizen-based enforcement of environmental laws in the Chesapeake region. They patrol thousands of miles of tributaries and shorelines throughout the Chesapeake andCoastal Bays and are at the forefront of enforcement efforts.

Waterkeeper Alliance is a global environmental organization uniting more than 190 Waterkeeper programs around the world and focusing citizen advocacy on the issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change.

by: John Bianchi, for WaterKeepers

“Advanced biofuels are critical to building a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system in the U.S.” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will help establish a domestic industry that will create jobs here at home and open new markets across rural America.”

Joining Secretary Chu, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack noted that USDA Rural Development has selected San Diego, California based Sapphire Energy to receive a loan guarantee for up to $54.5 million through the Biorefinery Assistance Program to demonstrate an integrated algal biorefinery process that will cultivate algae in ponds, and will use dewatering and oil extraction technology to produce an intermediate that will then be processed into drop-in green fuels such as jet fuel and diesel. The actual project will be constructed in Columbus, New Mexico.

“The development of renewable energy is a critical component of our efforts to rebuild and revitalize rural America,” said Secretary Vilsack.  “This Farm Bill program is instrumental in increasing our energy independence and expanding new technologies and markets for agricultural and environmental waste material.”

The Biorefinery Assistance Program, authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill, promotes the development of new and emerging technologies for the production of fuels that are produced from non-corn kernel starch biomass sources. The program provides loan guarantees to develop, construct and retrofit viable commercial-scale biorefineries producing advanced biofuels. The maximum loan guarantee is $250 million per project. The loan guarantee will be subject to the availability of funds and contingent upon Sapphire Energy meeting the conditions of the loan agreement.

Of the nearly $564 million in Recovery Act funding announced today, up to $483 million will go to 14 pilot-scale and 4 demonstration-scale biorefinery projects across the country.  The remaining $81 million will focus on accelerating the construction of a biorefinery project previously awarded funding. Collectively, these projects will be matched with more than $700 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds, for total project investments of almost $1.3 billion.

The biofuels and bioproducts produced through these projects will displace petroleum and accelerate the industry’s ability to achieve production targets mandated by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These investments will help close the gap between the production from the small number of biorefineries currently in operation and the aggressive Renewable Fuel Standard goals for cellulosic and advanced biofuels.

Visit the complete list and descriptions of selected projects.

by: US Department of Energy, Press Office

The Tamiami Trail acts as a dam that restricts water flow through the Everglades. Scientific studies have demonstrated that there are benefits associated with raising the roadway to allow additional freshwater to flow through Everglades National Park and into Florida Bay while maintaining vehicular traffic flow between Naples and Miami.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” said Kirk Fordham, CEO, Everglades Foundation. “Many attendees at today’s groundbreaking ceremony have battle scars that were inflicted over a 20-year struggle to get this project off the ground.  This project launches us on an exciting voyage to improve habitat in Everglades National Park, provide much-needed jobs to Floridians and enhance recreational opportunities for those who appreciate our way of life in South Florida.”

In 1989, the U.S. Congress authorized the Modified Water Deliveries project which intended to deliver more water and ecological benefits to Everglades National Park. In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed an environmentally preferred plan on an 11-mile bridge along the Tamiami Trail, just west of Miami.

In 2008, Congress approved the construction of a one-mile bridge, to be located two miles west of the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Krome Avenue. In 2009, after lawsuits and other delays, a federal judge lifted an injunction issued to prevent work on the bridge.

“The groundbreaking of the first phase of bridging the Tamiami Trail is long overdue. Planning has already begun on the next series of projects that will raise the roadway. The Everglades Foundation applauds Secretary Salazar for making this a top priority of the new administration,” said Fordham. “Other projects to improve the Southern Everglades ecosystem will soon follow including the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in Southwest Florida and the C-111 N. Spreader Canal Project to benefit Florida Bay.  These initiatives will complement land acquired for water storage and filter marshes by the pending U.S. Sugar Corp. land acquisition.”

The Foundation’s position is that the health of the Everglades is not only vital to the environment, but also to the economy and quality of life in South Florida. The organization has assembled a team of scientists, policy experts and communications professionals and works with partners on several fronts to educate, advocate and litigate–when necessary–to advance Everglades restoration.  In addition, the Foundation provides grants to like-minded local, national and international organizations and collaborates with other business, civic and environmental groups to form coalitions and set priorities to move restoration initiatives forward.

More than seven million people live in the Everglades watershed and depend on its natural systems for their livelihood, food, and drinking water. Florida’s boating, tourism, real estate, recreational and commercial fishing industries all depend on a healthy Everglades ecosystem, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and contributing billions to our economy. Its waters flow through the Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Biscayne National Park and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Together, these parks draw several million visitors each year, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to Florida’s tourism economy.

The Everglades Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to protecting and restoring one of the world’s unique natural ecosystems that provides economic, recreational and life-sustaining benefits to the millions of people who depend on its future health. Since 1993, the Everglades Foundation has played a leadership role in advancing Everglades restoration through the advancement of scientifically sound and achievable solutions. The Foundation seeks to reverse the damage inflicted on the ecosystem and provide policymakers and the public with an honest and credible resource to help guide decision-making on complex restoration issues. For more information, please visit  http://www.evergladesfoundation.org” \t “_blank” www.evergladesfoundation.org .

by: Richard Gibbs, Everglades Foundation

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter today joined New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in announcing a new initiative to identify and protect key wildlife travel and migration corridors between the two states.

The two governors have finalized a Memorandum of Understanding pledging to work collaboratively to protect key habitat connectivity, travel and migration corridors used by elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and other key species of wildlife that migrate across the shared border between the State of Colorado and the State of New Mexico.

“Wildlife is one of the most important resources in the West,” Gov. Ritter said. “It is part of our heritage, and its protection should be part of our legacy. I’m delighted we will be working with Gov. Richardson and New Mexico to make certain that the wildlife we share is able to move freely back and forth across our borders.”

In addition to the role wildlife plays as a cultural touchstone, the economies of both Coloradoand New Mexico benefit significantly from the hunting, fishing and tourism that the region’s wildlife supports. According to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent $3 billion in Colorado and $823 million in New Mexico that year.

“A rich wildlife heritage is one of the great treasures our states share and it must be protected,” Gov. Richardson said. “Roaming bighorn sheep, elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope are part of what it means to live in the great open space of the West. I am proud to play a part in continuing these great traditions.”

The MOU formalizes cooperation and planning for wildlife corridors. It calls for using the best scientific geospatial mapping systems available to inform land use planning and development in key habitats and migration areas.

Tribal consultation will be done with the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Tribe.

The Western Governors’ Association has also identified protection of viable wildlife corridors as an important regional objective. In June, the WGA signed a MOU with the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy, which agreed to help provide states with the best information possible on wildlife populations, wildlife corridors and crucial habitat across various political jurisdictions.

Click here to view a copy of the MOU between Colorado and New Mexico.

by: Office of Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.

Clearfuels Technology Inc. in Commerce City was awarded $23 million to produce renewable diesel and jet fuel from woody biomass and ZeaChem Inc., headquartered in Lakewood, was awarded $25 million to support construction of the company’s first cellulosic biorefinery.

“These companies represent the forward-thinking, entrepreneurial spirit driving Colorado’s New Energy Economy,” Gov. Ritter said. “Their efforts are leading Colorado forward by creating jobs and building energy security, while protecting our environment. Congratulations to them for securing these important grants.”

The grants announced today were among 19 biorefinery projects receiving $564 million in Recovery Act funding. The projects are intended to help build the foundation for full commercial-scale development of a biomass industry in the United States. Projects selected are part of the Department of Energy’s ongoing efforts to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, build a domestic biofuel industry and provide jobs in rural areas.

“Advanced biofuels are critical to building a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system in the U.S.” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “These projects will help establish a domestic industry that will create jobs here at home and open new markets across rural America.”

A summary of the two projects follows. More information on the DOE grants can be found here: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/documents2009/564M_Biomass_Projects.pdf

Clearfuels Technology Inc.: This project will produce renewable diesel and jet fuel from woody biomass by integrating ClearFuels’ and Rentench’s conversion technologies. The facility will also evaluate the conversion of bagasse and biomass mixtures to fuels.

ZeaChem Inc.: This project will use hybrid poplar trees to produce fuel-grade ethanol using hybrid technology. Additional feedstocks such as agricultural residues and energy crops will also be evaluated in a pilot project. The company is headquartered in Lakewood, but its first biorefinery is proposed to be constructed in Oregon.

For more information about Recovery Act funds coming to Colorado and energy programs, go to www.colorado.gov/recovery and www.colorado.gov/energy.