Spanish power giant Iberdrola has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against EdF and France. Iberdrola has accused the French government of giving EdF "substantial competitive advantage" through efforts designed to strengthen and maintain EdF's monopoly status in the French power market, while EdF was accused of engaging in monopoly practices. EdF provides nearly 95 percent of the electricity in France, and more than 20 percent of that for the entire European Union. This is the fifth antitrust complaint Iberdrola has filed against EdF, and is likely part of a larger legal strategy designed to stem a possible bid from the state-owned French power company. EdF was recently granted another extension by the commercial court in Bilbão to declare whether it plans to mount a takeover of Iberdrola.
There's nothing we like better than a three-way, especially when that mix up involves three of the leading cellulosic ethanol companies, one double-dipping Detroit monster, and some hot bagass. First up, Range Fuels, which picked up another $50 million on their way to filling up a $166 million venture round. Range will likely need every penny of the oversubscribed Series B to fill out their 100 million gallon cellulosic refinery, which broke ground in Georgia in November, 2007. With the question of whether Range's plant will produce cellulosic ethanol at a price competitive with fossil fuels up in the air, it can be certain at least one major auto maker is betting against them. GM, which backed Coskata in January, announced yesterday it has initiated a partnership with rival cellulosic-maker Mascoma. It's possible GM has plans to integrate technologies from the two companies into a single biorefinery, though that will probably take a lot of arm- and teeth-pulling.
The big winner in all of this is, of course, neither the consumer nor the biofuel industry. It's Vinod Khosla! Vinod is the founder of Range Fuels, which sprouted spontaneously from his head one fine September day. His Range bio puts us in awe, reminding us that Vinod "is perennially appointed to prestigious lists of entrepreneurs by various business publications, including Forbes, and featured in interviews by major television networks and newspapers." Vinod's also invested a hefty chunk of change in Coskata, and another couple of nickels in Mascoma. Which one do you think Vinod will take to the prom?
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Spanish power giant Iberdrola has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission against EdF and France. Iberdrola has accused the French government of giving EdF "substantial competitive advantage" through efforts designed to strengthen and maintain EdF's monopoly status in the French power market, while EdF was accused of engaging in monopoly practices. EdF provides nearly 95 percent of the electricity in France, and more than 20 percent of that for the entire European Union. This is the fifth antitrust complaint Iberdrola has filed against EdF, and is likely part of a larger legal strategy designed to stem a possible bid from the state-owned French power company. EdF was recently granted another extension by the commercial court in Bilbão to declare whether it plans to mount a takeover of Iberdrola.
There's nothing we like better than a three-way, especially when that mix up involves three of the leading cellulosic ethanol companies, one double-dipping Detroit monster, and some hot bagass. First up, Range Fuels, which picked up another $50 million on their way to filling up a $166 million venture round. Range will likely need every penny of the oversubscribed Series B to fill out their 100 million gallon cellulosic refinery, which broke ground in Georgia in November, 2007. With the question of whether Range's plant will produce cellulosic ethanol at a price competitive with fossil fuels up in the air, it can be certain at least one major auto maker is betting against them. GM, which backed Coskata in January, announced yesterday it has initiated a partnership with rival cellulosic-maker Mascoma. It's possible GM has plans to integrate technologies from the two companies into a single biorefinery, though that will probably take a lot of arm- and teeth-pulling.
The big winner in all of this is, of course, neither the consumer nor the biofuel industry. It's Vinod Khosla! Vinod is the founder of Range Fuels, which sprouted spontaneously from his head one fine September day. His Range bio puts us in awe, reminding us that Vinod "is perennially appointed to prestigious lists of entrepreneurs by various business publications, including Forbes, and featured in interviews by major television networks and newspapers." Vinod's also invested a hefty chunk of change in Coskata, and another couple of nickels in Mascoma. Which one do you think Vinod will take to the prom?
