(Philadelphia, PA, 25 October 2006) - Speaking before participants at the 19th Annual NREL Growth Forum, Mr. Bruce W. Ferguson, President of Edenspace Systems Corporation, today announced the signing of a three-year, $1,926,900 award from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund development of corn hybrids optimized for production of cellulosic ethanol. With this funding under the Biomass Research and Development Initiative jointly administered by DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Edenspace will lead an Energy Corn™ Consortium of universities, other not-for-profit institutions, government, and industry to help achieve the national goal of producing 250 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol by 2012.

The Consortium's development program integrates three core elements: (i) identification and testing of superior enzymes; (ii) rapid development of corn feedstocks bred specifically for cellulosic ethanol production from corn leaves and stems (stover), and (iii) pursuit of cellulosic ethanol techniques that share use of current corn grain ethanol production facilities. While great progress has recently been made in reducing the cost of bioreactor-manufactured cellulases, such enzymes still represent a significant fraction of cellulosic ethanol cost. Engineering crops with genes for cellulases is expected to reduce cellulosic ethanol enzyme costs and today's high capital equipment, energy, and disposal costs, as well as increase ethanol yields per acre, reduce CO₂ emissions and pollution from fossil fuels, increase energy independence, and raise rural and farm incomes.

In addition to Edenspace, the Consortium currently includes NREL (Golden, CO), an energy crop sponsor and technology pioneer with deep expertise and capabilities in cellulolytic enzymes, biomass pretreatment technologies, and cellulosic ethanol technology demonstration; Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK), with a distinguished record in microbial genetics; ICM, Inc., (Colwich, KS) an industry leader in the design and development of new grain ethanol facilities; Dr. Vicki Chandler, a prominent corn geneticist; Dr. Ray Katzen, a pioneer in cellulosic ethanol production technology; and leading researchers with related biotechnology and preprocessing expertise at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) and USDA's Western Regional Research Center (Albany, CA). Michael J. Blaylock, Ph.D., of Edenspace serves as Project Director. The Consortium's membership is expected to grow during the course of the program as new partners are added.

Edenspace will integrate work by the Consortium with development of corn, switchgrass, and other energy crops currently conducted under cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) that Edenspace has established with NREL and USDA.

Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Edenspace Systems Corporation is a commercial leader in the use of plants for renewable fuels and environmental applications. The company received the Environmental Business Journal's Technology Award in 2004 and the DaimlerChrysler Environmental Excellence award in 1999. With expertise in plant science, environmental and soil science, genetics and agronomy, Edenspace is developing innovative, sustainable technologies to fulfill energy needs, improve human health, protect property values and restore the environment.