BioFuels Journal

Pleasanton, CA—Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., a leader in the next generation of advanced biofuels, announced Sept. 7 that engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities are underway for the company's Sierra BioFuels Plant (Sierra BioFuels).

Fulcrum entered into a contract with a subsidiary of Fluor Corporation for the EPC services for the Sierra BioFuels project, a milestone plant that converts common household garbage into transportation fuel for cars and light trucks.

Fluor started engineering services earlier this quarter on the Sierra BioFuels project, a commercial-scale biorefinery that will convert post-sorted municipal solid waste (MSW) to ethanol when it enters operations in 2012.

"Partnering with the right engineering, procurement and construction team represents a key milestone in the execution of this valuable project.

"Fluor has proven experience in the petrochemical and energy industries, with significant expertise in the areas of gasification and alcohol synthesis and they have a proven track record of delivering on energy projects," said E. James Macias, Fulcrum's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"They have assembled for us an outstanding team to construct Sierra BioFuels and we look forward to working closely with Fluor on the successful completion of this important project.

"The Sierra BioFuels project is designed to bring clean, low-cost biofuels to the Northern Nevada and California markets," added Macias.

"Fulcrum has developed a creative and innovative approach to the production of advanced biofuels, and we are excited to be a part of this groundbreaking project," said Jose Bustamante, Vice President of Fluor's Chemicals Business Line.

Sierra BioFuels will provide more than 550 engineering, manufacturing, construction and operations jobs.

The project will be one of the Nation's first large-scale facilities capable of transforming everyday trash into a clean, renewable transportation fuel.

Located approximately 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada, Sierra BioFuels will convert approximately 90,000 tons of post- sorted MSW – the amount of trash produced by a city with a population of approximately 165,000 – into 10.5 million gallons of ethanol annually, meeting the demand for ethanol in the Reno market.

Utilizing MSW as a feedstock, Sierra BioFuels will produce cellulosic ethanol that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75 percent on a lifecycle basis when compared to traditional gasoline production from oil.

With long-term feedstock contracts in place, Fulcrum is advancing development on additional projects across the U.S. that will have the capacity to produce one billion gallons of ethanol annually.

Fulcrum has developed a proprietary process that will create low-cost, reliable and environmentally clean renewable transportation fuel lowering our Nation's dependence on oil, reducing the waste going to landfills and stimulating economic growth with a new industry of green jobs.

For more information, call 925-224-8252.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Fulcrum BioEnergy
• Fluor Corp.

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