Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 A second step would be a global marketing effort to highlight Maine's potential as a hub for biobased companies. "If we take these biobased assets that Maine has, along with this growing cluster of com- panies, we become a state that people hopefully will look twice at when they are considering where to invest in next," Mace says. e third piece of the strategy, she says, involves attracting private investment for the manufacture of cel- lulosic sugars. "is is something we really need to do in this state," she says. "It's because the sugars are chemical building blocks. You can get the sugars from trees and once you get the sugars you can make anything." Combating an 'economic hurricane' Adding urgency to Biobased Maine's efforts is the closure of five paper mills in the last two years coupled with Covanta Energy's decision this spring to close its biomass power plants in West Enfield and Jonesboro. In a videotaped message to those attending the orga- nization's June 3 "Plants to Products Forum" hosted by Maine Standard Biofuels, U.S. Sen. Angus King likened those closures to an "economic hurricane" devastating the communities of inland Maine. At the same time, he says, Maine's 17.7 million acres of forest represent a huge resource for the emerging biobased industry, since technology already exists to convert wood chips and low-value trees into high-value bio- based chemicals, biofuels and bioplastics. "is is a huge opportunity," he says. "It has to hap- pen fast. We don't have 20 to 25 years to figure this out. We have to figure out what else we can make besides paper — not to replace pulp and paper, but in addition to paper — in order to safeguard the economies of the rural part of our state." A keynote speaker at the June 3 forum gave some credence to King's comments. "Maine has an exceptional amount of biomass. When I drove up here, I saw lots of fuel," says Fred Moesler, chief technology officer of King of Prussia, Pa.-based Renmatix, which is developing lower-cost methods for deconstructing many non- food plants into the cellulosic sugars and polymers that are the biobased building blocks that can be substituted for petrochemicals. Since its founding in 2007, Renmatix has had its share of unexpected pitfalls and pivot moments, Moesler says. But persistence pays off and in Renmatix's case the payoff is the successful develop- ment of a low-cost proprietary technology that con- verts wood pulp and other non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars by blasting them with water under extreme heat and pressure. e company is now in an expansion phase to commercialize its technology. In addition to its R&D center outside of Philadelphia, the com- pany has a feedstock processing facility in Rome, N.Y., and a facility near Atlanta that demonstrates the proprietary sugar-extraction process. Investors include the world's leading chemical company, BASF, which invested $30 million in the company in 2012; Total New Energies, one of the largest inte- grated oil and gas companies in the world; Waste Management Inc., a Texas-based provider of waste management services throughout North America; and two venture capital firms, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Bright Capital. "You can become a serious biomass hub," Moesler says of Maine. Renmatix Senior Vice President Mark Schweiker, a former governor of Pennsylvania, says state government has an important role to play in highlighting those assets for potential investors. "In plain English, who's got the biggest stake [in tap- ping Maine's biomass potential] and start there," he says. "Who's got the big stake in it and the com- mercial hunger to do it big? You've got what it takes there. at is not an overstatement." In a follow-up interview with Mainebiz, Schweiker offered more details. "e first order of business is to build a consen- sus on that effort, with stakeholder support," he says. "In my mind, there's some affinity that most of Maine has with the northern region of Pennsylvania — there's a lot of forested acres. I've seen the shift and downturn in the forest products industry in my own state, and it isn't fun … Put those assets back to work: It represents a magnificent opportunity." New ideas, new technologies At Grow-Tech, Chittum says the company's core technology makes up one of its key products, the Cellular Rooting Sponge, a blend of fine peat com- bined with a foam binder to create a flexible and stable material for seed germination and healthy plant growth. Large-scale agriculture, flower farms and forestry companies are the primary customers. Casual Dining Restaurant Franchise Available Interested candidates should send an email with resume attached to MaineFranchiseNow@gmail.com. Going concern, fully staffed and stocked Casual Dining Restaurant Franchise available in Southern Maine. Located in a high traffic area with area businesses, amusement park and other entertainment venues nearby. Restaurant is operating and part of a known brand and franchise system, and design is fully updated and in excellent condition. Rent and Utilities are very reasonable. This is a turnkey, step-in opportunity for the right owner/operator with strong financials and prior full service restaurant operating experience. because when women and girls thrive, communities prosper Sunday, August 21, 2016 The Power of She All Women's 5K Race to benefit the Maine Women's Fund Race Start: 9:00 AM University of Southern Maine Portland Campus Come celebrate the power of what a woman can do! Register today! www.thepowerofSHE10K.com P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A I N E AT O RO N O Nadir Yildirim, program leader and president of Revolution Research Inc., displays the Orono startup company's prototype insulation foam board made with nanocellulose fiber derived from trees.

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