Unites States Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado toured and met with Gevo, Inc. to discuss the importance of renewable fuels and chemicals for Colorado and the U.S. economy.
Senator Bennet met with Gevo executives including chief executive officer Patrick Gruber, Ph.D. to discuss energy policy and see first-hand the innovative research and development Gevo has done that enabled it to become a leading provider of renewable biofuels and chemicals.
Gevo, a Colorado-based company, is the world's only commercial producer of isobutanol, a naturally occurring four carbon alcohol.
Isobutanol is an important platform chemical with broad applications in large chemicals and fuels markets and a "drop-in" product that should allow customers to replace petroleum-derived raw materials with isobutanol-derived raw materials without modification to their equipment or production processes. Isobutanol can drop into existing infrastructure, providing for easy integration into existing refining and petrochemical production processes.
Gevo's isobutanol has successfully cleared registration with the U.S. EPA as a fuel additive, is the first isobutanol to be listed in the EPA's Fuel Registration Directory, and is now approved for blending with gasoline. Additionally, Gevo worked with the United States Air Force (USAF) last June to provide fuel for the first successful "alcohol-to-jet" (ATJ) fuel test flight in an A-10 Thunderbolt II.
"We applaud Senator Bennet's support for the renewable energy industry and appreciate his visit to our headquarters to learn about the technology that makes Gevo a leading renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company," said Gruber.
Senator Bennet remarked that he very much enjoyed his visit to Gevo and said, "Colorado has a strong reputation as a hub for innovation and firms like Gevo are leading the way. By developing innovative techniques for converting biomass to fuel, Gevo is a critical part of developing a balanced national energy portfolio."
About Gevo
Gevo is a leading renewable chemicals and next-generation biofuels company. Gevo's patent-protected, capital-light business model converts existing ethanol plants into biorefineries to make isobutanol. This versatile chemical can be directly integrated into existing chemical and fuel products to deliver environmental and economic benefits.
