Why they're Hot: Enerkem – #31 so far (#25 last year)

The Latest News: Enerkem announced that it has successfully concluded the U.S. federal environmental assessment requirements for its Mississippi waste-to-ethanol plant, which clears the way for the company to move forward with the project.

As a condition of US$50 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its Pontotoc, Mississippi biorefinery,  Enerkem needed to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Following the assessment, DOE issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI), which gives Enerkem the green light to proceed with the project without the need for additional federal environmental assessment. Construction work for Enerkem’s Mississippi plant is expected to begin in 2011.

The Digest’s Take: Enerkem has had such a big year that we are surprised and dismayed that the waste-to-ethanol pioneer has backed up in the rankings this year – but we keep in mind that the invited international selectors will be more likely to get behind the traction that Enerkem is achieving in its Canadian and US-based projects. The company is said to be besieged with queries for expansion, and 2012 could loom as a major expansion time for the Chornets.