Green Biologics Receives $500,000 Grant to Advance Renewable Chemical Production in Minnesota

19th May 2014

Abingdon, England (May 19, 2014) –Central Minnesota Renewables LLC (CMR), Green Biologics’ subsidiary formed to launch the company into commercial production of renewable n-butanol, has received a $500,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) to support the repurpose of an ethanol facility in Little Falls, MN. CMR was one of five projects selected to receive NextGen Energy grants by the MDA. The grants fall under the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) program to help creative and emerging agricultural projects acquire funding. 

CMR will receive funding for engineering work needed to convert the existing Little Falls plant to n-butanol production for the chemical industry. In December 2013, an agreement was approved by the Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-op to sell the plant to Green Biologics, which specializes in renewable chemicals, specifically n-butanol, acetone and derivatives of these two renewable solvents. Green Biologics’ acquisition of the Little Falls facility is expected to be complete later this year. Green Biologics expects to produce bio-based n-butanol and acetone at the repurposed plant by early 2016.  

The project will sustain operation of a current biofuel facility in the Minnesota fleet, while transitioning it to an expanded opportunity in next generation, high value renewable chemical markets. Relying on Minnesota agriculture, the project capitalizes on existing local resources and infrastructure and introduces a new bio-based industrial raw material that could attract new manufacturing of finished products such as ‘green’ paints, coatings, adhesives, and inks. 

The NextGen Grant Program aims to expand and strengthen Minnesota's commitment to locally-owned renewable energy projects in an effort to be a leading state in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CMR was selected among 35 projects submitted for consideration by a technical team made up of members from five Minnesota state departments – Agriculture, Commerce, Natural Resources, Pollution Control, and Employment and Economic Development.

About Green Biologics Green Biologics Ltd (GBL) is a renewable chemicals company based in Abingdon, England with a U.S. operating company, Green Biologics Inc., based in Gahanna, Ohio. GBL’s Clostridium fermentation platform converts a wide range of sustainable feedstocks into high performance green chemicals such as n-butanol, acetone, and through chemical synthesis, derivatives of butanol and acetone used by a growing global consumer and industrial products customer base. The platform combines advanced high productivity fermentation with superior-performing proprietary Clostridium microbial biocatalysts to produce a pipeline of high value green chemicals with optimal performance in downstream formulations.

Green Biologics is transforming the global chemicals market, providing its customers with products and technology that are more sustainable and higher value than petroleum-based alternatives.

Contact Information: Green Biologics Ltd. Attn: Timothy G. Staub Global Vice President Business Development tim.staub@greenbiologics.com Website: www.greenbiologics.com