EPA approves cellulosic ethanol production by Pacific Ethanol

Pacific Ethanol Inc. received the Environmental Protection Agency's approval for generating cellulosic ethanol at its Stockton, California plant last week.

The approved registration allows Pacific Ethanold to use Edeniq Inc.'s unique process to produce ethanol and D3 cellulosic renewable identification numbers (RINs).

“This approval is a landmark for the ethanol industry and for Edeniq as it opens the door for low-cost production of cellulosic ethanol from corn kernel fiber in existing fermentation vessels," Edeniq’s President and CEO Brian Thome said.

Pacific Ethanol has used Edeniq's Pathway Technology to convert corn kernel fiber to fermentable sugars since December 2015. The Stockton plant can produce 60 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol. The Pathway Technology helps producers comply with EPA requirements.

“The EPA-approved registration for generating cellulosic ethanol and D3 RINs is an important milestone in our strategy to be a leading producer of cellulosic ethanol," Pacific Ethanol President and CEO Neil Koehler said. "This further underscores our continued commitment to improving production yields, and diversifying our technology and feedstocks. We expect to produce over one million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol at our Stockton facility. With the high-value D3 RINs, the carbon credit under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and the federal Second Generation Biofuel Producer tax credit, we expect that cellulosic ethanol production will materially contribute to the profitability of our Stockton facility."