Commissioning of new Louisiana cellulosic ethanol facility begun

Verenium Corporation, a pioneer in the development of next-generation cellulosic ethanol and high-performance specialty enzymes, announced that it has begun the commissioning phase at its demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Jennings, Louisiana.

“This is a major step forward and a transformational moment for Verenium and the next-generation ethanol industry as we seek commercially-viable alternatives to traditional fuel sources,” said Carlos A. Riva, president and chief executive officer of Verenium. “This is a first for the United States and as we take the next step toward commercialization, we are breaking new ground and setting new standards for our industry.”

Start-up activities will continue as the facility transitions into a comprehensive 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 phase puts Verenium on track for its goal of beginning construction in the middle of next year (2009) on a 30 million-gallon-per-year commercial plant, which will be the first of its kind, located in the southeastern United States.

“We must assure that this next-generation of ethanol is produced in a responsible manner to minimize the carbon footprint and deliver the energy this country so urgently needs,” Riva said. “With this plant moving into operations, we are on the brink of commercialization, on the brink of success.”

Verenium’s demonstration-scale plant in Jennings is rated to produce 1.4 million-gallons-per-year of next-generation ethanol that uses specialty enzymes and the Company’s proprietary technology to convert non-food biomass.