Cambridge firm to produce ethanol

Mascoma Corp., of Cambridge, and Tamarack Energy Inc. have agreed to collaborate to produce cellulosic ethanol, which when added to gasoline can result in motor vehicles emitting less pollution.

As with corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol offers the additional benefit of lessening dependence on foreign oil, the companies said today.

Cellulosic ethanol can be made from scrap wood, paper sludge, and other forestry and agricultural biomass, which the Northeast has in abundance.

Mascoma specializes in turning cellulosic biomass into ethanol, ethanol that's cheaper than that made from corn, the company said.

Tamarack, of Essex, Conn., focuses on the permitting, construction, and operation of energy facilities that utilize biofuels, wind, and combined heat and power technologies.

By combining the companies' areas of expertise, "we can reduce the cost and time required to bring cellulosic ethanol production to deployment and commercialization," Mascoma president Colin South said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)