Fulcrum Bioenergy Inc is a United States-based company that is focused on developing renewable projects in the biomass and waste sectors, with a particular emphasis on biofuels. The company was founded in 2007 by Jim Macias, who currently serves as the company's CEO. Fulcrum Bioenergy has its headquarters in Pleasanton, California, and has additional offices in Nevada and Washington.

The company's mission is to provide sustainable, low-carbon transportation fuels that are cost-competitive with traditional fossil fuels. Fulcrum Bioenergy's approach to achieving this goal is to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into low-carbon transportation fuels using a proprietary technology called the Fulcrum Bioenergy Process. The Fulcrum Bioenergy Process is a thermochemical process that converts MSW into a synthetic gas, which is then converted into transportation fuels such as jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline.

Fulcrum Bioenergy's focus on MSW as a feedstock for biofuels is driven by several factors. First, MSW is a readily available and abundant feedstock, with over 250 million tons of MSW generated in the United States each year. Second, MSW is a low-cost feedstock, as municipalities typically pay to dispose of it in landfills. Third, using MSW as a feedstock for biofuels helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and divert waste from landfills.

Fulcrum Bioenergy's first commercial-scale project is the Sierra Biofuels Plant, which is currently under construction in Nevada. The Sierra Biofuels Plant is expected to produce approximately 10 million gallons of low-carbon transportation fuels per year, using 175,000 tons of MSW as a feedstock. The plant is expected to be operational in 2021 and will be the first commercial-scale plant in the United States to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from MSW.

In addition to the Sierra Biofuels Plant, Fulcrum Bioenergy has several other projects in development. The company has entered into a joint venture with waste management company Waste Management Inc. to develop a network of MSW-to-biofuels plants across the United States. The joint venture, called Fulcrum NorthPoint, plans to develop up to five plants with a total production capacity of 175 million gallons of low-carbon transportation fuels per year.

Fulcrum Bioenergy has also partnered with airline company United Airlines to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain. The partnership involves United Airlines investing $30 million in Fulcrum Bioenergy and agreeing to purchase up to 10 million gallons of SAF per year from the Sierra Biofuels Plant. The partnership is part of United Airlines' goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.

Fulcrum Bioenergy's approach to developing renewable projects in the biomass and waste sectors has several advantages. First, the company's focus on MSW as a feedstock for biofuels helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and divert waste from landfills. Second, using MSW as a feedstock for biofuels is a low-cost and readily available feedstock. Third, Fulcrum Bioenergy's proprietary technology allows for the production of low-carbon transportation fuels that are cost-competitive with traditional fossil fuels.

However, there are also several challenges associated with Fulcrum Bioenergy's approach. First, the technology used to convert MSW into transportation fuels is still in the early stages of development and has not yet been proven at commercial scale. Second, there is a risk that the cost of MSW as a feedstock could increase if municipalities begin to charge for its disposal. Third, there is competition from other renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, which could limit the demand for biofuels.

Overall, Fulcrum Bioenergy is a company that is focused on developing renewable projects in the biomass and waste sectors, with a particular emphasis on biofuels. The company's approach to achieving its mission is to convert MSW into low-carbon transportation fuels using a proprietary technology called the Fulcrum Bioenergy Process. Fulcrum Bioenergy's first commercial-scale project is the Sierra Biofuels Plant, which is currently under construction in Nevada. The company has several other projects in development, including a joint venture with Waste Management Inc. to develop a network of MSW-to-biofuels plants and a partnership with United Airlines to develop a sustainable aviation fuel supply chain. While there are challenges associated with Fulcrum Bioenergy's approach, the company's focus on MSW as a feedstock for biofuels has several advantages and has the potential to make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diverting waste from landfills.