Coskata, Inc., a developer of next-generation ethanol, has formed a strategic alliance with ICM, Inc. to design and construct a commercial ethanol plant using Coskata’s biological fermentation technology.

“Aligning with ICM on one of our first commercial plants is a natural choice because of their unrivaled biofuels technical knowledge and ability,” said Bill Roe, president and CEO of Coskata. “This strategic alliance moves us a step closer to the arrival of Coskata’s next-generation ethanol in the marketplace.

“Coskata and ICM will speed the commercialization of a process that will convert biomass into advanced biofuels from a number of renewable materials, at a production cost of less than $1 a gallon,” Roe said.

The first Coskata plant, expected to open in late 2010, will be the staging ground for the world’s first mass-produced next-generation ethanol. The location of Coskata’s first facility will be announced at a later date.

“In addition to ICM’s own research and development efforts, ICM evaluated other potential cellulosic ethanol technologies to identify commercially viable processes,” according to Dave Vander Griend, president and CEO of ICM. “Coskata’s thermal biomass conversion process offers promising technology.

“It has always been ICM’s mission to help sustain agriculture through innovation,” Vander Griend said. “Coskata’s production process makes them a valuable ally as we continue to pursue advancements in renewable technology towards the creation of advanced and cellulosic biofuels as directed by the recent Energy Bill.”