Mascoma pledged $1.7 million in incentives to relocate to Vermont, as states vie for cellulosic ethanol leadership

In Vermont, Mascoma has received approval from the Vermont Economic Progress Council for $1.7 million in job creation incentives if it relocates to the state. Mascoma, a cellulosic ethanol research and development firm, has outgrown its current  facilities in Cambridge, MA and Lebanon, NH.

Mascoma was last in the news in connection with its partnership with the University of Tennessee in a pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Vonore. TN. The plant will produce ethanol from switchgrass, and the project is being developed in conjunction with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Two groups have received a combined $190 million in grants for cellulosic ethanol research. The proposed project would produce 5 Mgy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass.

According to a report from Metropulse, the group reached a partnership agreement with Mascoma for operation of the plant and collaboration on research aimed at making the cost of switchgrass ethanol commercially competitive.

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