Trestle Energy wins approval for biofuel process

Trestle Energy LLC, a Californian company working with ethanol and power producers across the Midwest, has announced that California's Air Resources Board officially approved its groundbreaking ethanol production process under the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). Building on Trestle's 2014 approval by British Columbia (BC), California's approval further validates Trestle's technology and clears the way for production and sale of low emissions ethanol into California's fuel market.

Trestle Energy is developing partnerships with Midwestern ethanol plants to increase production of low carbon fuel for consumers in both California and BC. Trestle's production system empowers American farmers and American fuel producers to compete effectively with imports from overseas. It delivers important climate and energy security benefits and helps electric utilities comply with the 'Clean Power Plan'.

"We are pleased California has joined BC in approving our fuel pathways," said James Rhodes, Co-founder and President of Trestle Energy. "These pathways demonstrate the ability of American agriculture, industry, and ingenuity to both grow the economy and protect the environment. They also demonstrate the ability of ambitious environmental policies to stimulate innovation and drive down carbon emissions. We look forward to expanding our network of partners to ramp up deliveries for California consumers. We are excited to begin working with Oregon regulators in the coming year."

Trestle Energy hopes to apply its technology under the renewable fuel standard (RFS2). EPA approval under the RFS2 would allow American ethanol producers to compete with foreign sugarcane ethanol imports, creating jobs and climate benefits here at home. It would also enable American industries to start delivering on the climate commitments adopted last month in the Paris Agreement (COP21).

Trestle Energy's innovative process was lauded by a bipartisan coalition of US Senators, who wrote to EPA urging the Administration to give Trestle Energy's petition "full and prompt consideration because of its potential contributions to the commercialisation of advanced biofuels and the associated economic development in Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and other midwestern states."

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/27012016/california-air-resources-approve-trestle-energy-biofuel-process-2275/