Genera launches TN funds

Genera Energy, led by CEO Kelly Tiller, Ph.D., is launching the first of several new innovation funds, to support biomass energy development and related businesses in Tennessee. VNC's story is here.

Switchgrass agri-challenges

Weeds could thwart Tennessee plans to develop and produce biofuels from switchgrass. More from Larisa Brass of the KNS. More from Larisa about logistics of getting switchgrass from farm to gaspump.

Biofuels plant jumpstarted at Vonore

The KNS reports today, "Cellulosic ethanol production facility is first of its kind, can convert switchgrass, corncobs A crowd of several hundred, including elected officials, representatives of the University of Tennessee, and executives from Dupont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC, braved the cold Friday for the opening of the world's first cellulosic ethanol production facility." The full story's here.

Dupont Danisco, Genera partnership spurs enthusiasm

The folks in the Eastate are getting pretty pumped about their role in clean energy, especially given the region's new public-private push for biofuels manufacturing. On Friday, the DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC plant (headed by Joe Skurla, at left) will have its grand opening, and officials are predicting the pilot operation will become a magnet for visitors (and potential investors) from all over. Genera Energy is also getting a good deal of related grants funding, according to Sunday's story by Larisa Brass in the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Eastate entrepreneur award winners

Catching-up: We may not previously have posted that The Innovation Valley Technology Council (Tech2020) last fall announced its Navigator Award winners: Radio Systems PetSafe, innovative large company; Genera Energy, innovative small company; Misty Mayes, Management Solutions, outstanding entrepreneur; Oak Ridge Associated Universities, large company community service award; and RecruitWise, small company community service award. In addition, in the related ThrottleUp 2009 event, TrakLok™ Corporation won the business plan pitch competition for seed and early stage companies. TrakLok helps companies globally track intermodal shipping containers.

DuPont Danisco ethanol plant opening Jan. 29

Dupont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC and UT Research Foundation's Genera Energy LLC will hold a grand celebration for the milestone plant, Jan. 29. Ethanol Producer has it.

Folks waiting on Bredesen Biofuels news

A widely published AP story points out that there's been no word on the biofuels investment initiative anticipated by the Bredesen Administration.

Genera to get $11MM from state

Genera Energy, the UT Research Foundation startups charged with advancing biofuels in Tennessee, got approval for an $11 MM transfer of funds, which had been sought by Gov. Phil Bredesen. Larisa Brass reports for the KNS.

Money in TN switchgrass

The KNS reports this morning that Genera Energy, the UT spinout, and its DuPont partner have received a $4.9 million Department of Energy grant to demonstrate they can scale-up biofuel production. UT release here.