Trestle Energy Wins Approval for Innovative, Low-Emissions Biofuel Pathway from British Columbia

LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Trestle Energy – an American startup with facilities in Mason City, Iowa – announced that British Columbia, Canada has officially approved its groundbreaking process for producing advanced biofuel, clearing the way for Trestle to begin producing and selling its low-emissions biofuel in BC. With this approval, Trestle Energy is now recognized by BC as the lowest emissions ethanol producer in America.  

Trestle Energy will now begin partnering with existing ethanol plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and across the Midwest to ramp up production of its low carbon biofuels and make the fuel available to BC consumers. Trestle's method of production will strengthen export markets for American companies and help them effectively compete with overseas biofuel producers, while also helping advance important climate and energy security objectives. 

"We are thrilled that British Columbia has moved quickly to approve our fuel pathways, so that we can begin to get our advanced biofuels to market," said James Rhodes, co-founder and president of Trestle Energy. "We look forward to partnering with ethanol plants to supply Canada with low carbon biofuels, and we hope to bring them to the United States as soon as possible so that we can provide Americans with clean, affordable, low carbon energy."

Trestle Energy is hoping to bring the advantages of its technology to the U.S., and has petitions currently pending with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—filed in November 2013—and with the California Air Resources Board (CARB)—filed in May 2014. EPA put a hold on all pathway approvals earlier this year while officials conduct an audit of their internal process, and CARB's application processing has been slowed by its efforts to re-adopt the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. If EPA and CARB approve the technology, plants across the U.S. could begin ramping up production immediately. Importantly, this would allow American fuel producers to compete with the Brazilian fuel market, which is expected to export roughly $2 billion in sugar cane ethanol to the U.S. annually. In addition, it would provide President Obama with a big win in his efforts to create new green jobs and improve the environment by combatting climate change.

Trestle Energy's promising and innovative process has already been lauded by a bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators, who wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy earlier this year urging the Administration to resume processing fuel pathway petitions and to give Trestle Energy's petition "full and prompt consideration because of its potential contributions to the commercialization of advanced biofuels and the associated economic development in Iowa and other Midwestern states."

About Trestle: Trestle Energy is a California-based biofuel production company specializing in low carbon production systems that offer reliable, scalable and cost-effective methods for producing biofuel and petroleum with low lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions—directly benefiting America's economy, environment, and energy supply. Learn more here: http://trestleenergy.com/ 

SOURCE Trestle Energy