Cool Planet to start building renewables plant

Cool Planet Energy Systems, a technology company producing green fuels and biochar products, has started building its fi¬rst commercial facility in the US state of Louisiana.

Called Project Genesis, the new facility is designed to produce 10 million gallons a year of high octane renewable petrol blendstocks, as well as biochar, all made from sustainable wood residues. Permits have been received to begin earthwork and grading, with construction now scheduled to follow.

The plant will be located at the Port of Alexandria, on the Red River Waterway. This site was chosen because of the large availability of woody biomass there, as well as interstate and rail access and direct barge access to more than nine refineries.

'We could not have picked a better location to build our first commercial facility and start transforming the nation's fuel and food supplies,' says CEO Howard Janzen.

Cool Planet's technology turns biomass into green fuels and biochar and has the ability to be carbon negative. Its green fuels are to be blended directly into the current fuel supply to reduce greenhouse gases from the air without sacrificing performance or increasing prices at the pump.

The company's strategic investors include BP, Google Ventures, Energy Technology Ventures (GE, ConocoPhillips, NRG Energy), and the Constellation division of Exelon.