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ZE-GEN,
INC. SECURES AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM PINNACLE
VENTURES
Investment to support design and
construction of first ever commercial size synthesis gas clean energy
generator.
Boston, MA – January 10,
2008 – Ze-gen, Inc., a clean energy company
providing advanced gasification technology to convert municipal waste
streams into synthesis gas and generate low emissions electricity and
renewable energy credits, announced that it has closed a $2.5 million
venture term debt facility with Pinnacle Ventures, L.L.C. of Palo Alto,
California.
"We’re confident in the design and
technology that we’ve witnessed at the Ze-gen test facility
in New Bedford, MA and we believe that our decision to help fund the
preliminary permitting and development for their next facility will
prove to be a sound investment," said Patrick C. Lee, a Partner at
Pinnacle Ventures."As a company, Ze-gen embodies the ideals we seek for
our investments, an innovative technology combined with a compelling
business model with excellent growth potential. High energy costs, the
need for more clean and renewable energy generation and a growing waste
disposal problem have created the ideal environment for the Ze-gen
solution."
The increasing volume of solid waste is a global
problem with lasting effects. In the United States alone, over 300
million tons of municipal solid waste are being sent directly to
landfills. This poses serious environmental problems as decomposing
waste generates methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 20 times more
potent than carbon dioxide. Ze-gen offers an economically viable and
environmentally superior alternative to traditional landfills through
its patented technique to create synthetic natural gas, and then
generate clean power from this enormous source of free fuel.
“Pinnacle Ventures’ support
represents an important milestone for Ze-gen. As we begin the process
of launching our full-scale commercial operations, the confidence and
backing of Pinnacle is a coveted endorsement we are proud to
secure,” said Bill Davis, Ze-gen’s CEO and
President.
To date, Ze-gen has raised over $8 million in
financing from a range of leading clean energy institutional investors,
including Pinnacle Ventures, Flagship Ventures, VantagePoint Venture
Partners, the Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation, and the
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. Ze-gen held a ribbon-cutting
ceremony at its large-scale demonstration facility in New Bedford, MA
on July 23, 2007 and successfully commenced testing operations in
October. The company has begun development and pre-engineering work on
a full-scale commercial facility and is on-track to begin construction
of this facility by the end of 2008.
About
Ze-gen, Inc.
Ze-gen was founded in mid-2004 to develop
and deploy advanced gasification technology which converts municipal
waste streams into synthesis gas with virtually zero emissions. In
addition to the environmental problems associated with conventional
means of waste disposal, there is considerable energy content in
ordinary waste streams. Industry data suggests that in the United
States alone, over 50,000 megawatts of latent energy potential lies in
these waste streams, which are routinely landfilled. Ze-gen is poised
to be the market leader in the environmentally friendly re-purposing of
these waste streams into renewable energy. For more information and a
multimedia glimpse of the future, visit www.ze-gen.com
About
Pinnacle Ventures
Pinnacle
Ventures is a private venture capital fund focused on
providing debt and equity financing to early-stage companies. Pinnacle
differentiates itself through the strength and diversity of its team,
its broad range of investment alternatives, its creative and flexible
structures, its thoughtful responsiveness, by taking a long term
perspective with respect to its investments and by helping its
portfolio companies achieve success. The company is located in Palo
Alto, California.
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