LS9 wins EPA's highest environmental honor for its Renewable Petroleum technology that converts plant-based materials into low-carbon fuels, chemicals

Graziela Medina Shepnick

SAN FRANCISCO , June 21, 2010 (press release) – Renewable Petroleum(TM) technology efficiently converts renewable raw materials into low-carbon fuels and chemicals

LS9, the Renewable Petroleum Company(TM), today announced that it has won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) highest environmental honor for its revolutionary Renewable Petroleum(TM) technology that converts sustainable, plant-based materials into low-carbon fuels and chemicals.

The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award recognizes chemical technologies that are making significant contributions to reducing pollution in the United States by incorporating the principles of green chemistry into chemical design, manufacture and use. Winners of this prestigious award are selected by an international panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society.

LS9's game-changing technology platform uses a one-step fermentation process to convert renewable raw materials into a broad portfolio of low-carbon petroleum replacement products, including LS9's UltraClean(TM) Diesel and surfactants, which LS9 is commercializing with one of its strategic partners, Procter and Gamble.

Most other advanced biofuels and chemicals production technologies require additional steps in their production processes. LS9's highly efficient one-step production technology enables it to produce fuels and chemicals that offer increased environmental benefits over conventional petroleum-based products and improved economics over other multi-step technologies used in the production of advanced biofuels.

"Since our founding, LS9 has focused on finding solutions to the climate change issues facing our planet," said Steve del Cardayre, LS9's Vice President of Research and Development. "To be recognized by the EPA as a leader in the field of Green Chemistry is a great honor and it helps remind the world that it is only a matter of time until companies like LS9 will be supplying the low-carbon renewable fuels and chemicals needed to significantly reduce our dependence on conventional petroleum-based products."

"The chemical composition of LS9's UltraClean Diesel is compatible with the existing infrastructure and has a more desirable environmental footprint than conventional diesel. Production of LS9 UltraClean Diesel provides an estimated 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional petroleum diesel. In addition, LS9 UltraClean Diesel is free of benzene, a common carcinogen that is generally associated with conventional diesel products. The environmental benefits are equally impressive when LS9's technology is used in the production of industrial chemicals.

Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. This includes using sustainable feedstocks and more efficient production processes whenever it is technically and economically practicable.

LS9 UltraClean products are a family of transportation fuels and industrial chemicals that are produced from plant-based materials. LS9 UltraClean fuels overcome a number of key challenges associated with first-generation biofuels, including infrastructure compatibility, product diversity, product economics and quality consistency. LS9 UltraClean fuels can go directly into vehicles without engine modification. The products are designed to be cost-competitive with traditional petroleum-based fuels - without subsidy - and be commercially available within the next few years.

"This is a remarkable achievement for LS9's team of scientists and investors," said Bill Haywood, LS9's CEO. "The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award acknowledges the value of the time and energy LS9 has invested in its efforts to develop renewable petroleum products, and it recognizes LS9's technology as one that is ready to fundamentally change the landscape of advanced biofuels and sustainable chemicals."

LS9 was founded in 2005 and has received venture funding from Flagship Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Chevron Technology Ventures. The company has also entered into a strategic partnership with Procter and Gamble.

"LS9 has utilized its game-changing technology platform to find meaningful applications in the fuels and chemicals space," said Noubar Afeyan, Managing Partner of Flagship Ventures and Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of LS9. "This award recognizes the important role LS9 will play in bringing clean, green petroleum replacement products to the world market."

About LS9

LS9, Inc., the Renewable Petroleum Company(TM), is a privately-held industrial biotechnology company pursuing the commercial development of renewable fuels and chemicals. LS9 is applying synthetic biology to produce proprietary biofuels that are compatible with existing fuel distribution and consumer infrastructure, as well as high-value industrial chemicals. LS9 is the pioneer in the commercial development of fermentation derived hydrocarbon biofuels and its patent-pending Renewable Petroleum(TM) products are custom engineered in the lab to address immediate market needs for clean energy alternatives to petroleum. LS9 is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Additional information about LS9 products and capabilities is available at www.ls9.com.

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