Rivertop Renewables Selected as One of Three Winners of Rocky Mountain Clean Tech Open

Company qualifies as semi-finalist for national Clean Tech Open competition

Rivertop Renewables http://www.rivertop.com announced today that the Company was selected as one of three winners of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Clean Tech Open http://www.cleantechopen.com/app.cgi/content/home/index , the nation’s largest clean technology focused business competition.

Rivertop, whose scientific platform resides at the “headwaters” of the renewable chemical industry, is developing a series of building block chemicals derived from a variety of natural sugar feedstock, including glucaric acid, upon which many other products can be developed. Glucaric acid will first be applied as corrosion inhibitors and concrete admixtures. Rivertop is also developing a detergent builder to replace phosphates and a polymer to control the release of fertilizers, both of which would protect water quality.

“It is an honor to be selected from among such a great field of companies,” said Dr. Donald Kiely, Rivertop’s founder and Chief Technical Officer. “This recognition and the exposure to the clean tech community will help us accelerate the development of our biodegradable chemicals, and advance the notion progressive chemistry.”

Rivertop http://www.rivertop.com was one of three winners who were selected from a talented pool of 64 clean tech entrepreneurs from the Rocky Mountain region. A total of 278 teams from across the country submitted entries — the most ever in the four-year history of the competition. All told, the 2009 Cleantech Open competition includes more than a $1 million in total prizes and a “100K Jobs Challenge” to create 100,000 clean tech jobs in America over the next five years. Finalists from the Rocky Mountain region will join counterparts from California and Pacific Northwest for a final show-down at the Cleantech Open Awards Gala, held in San Francisco on November 17.

In presenting the award to the winners, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said, “We know in Denver that with cities using 75 percent of the world’s resources, change must happen at the local level. We congratulate and are grateful to the 2009 Rocky Mountain CleanTech Open award winners who are helping to change the way we use energy in Colorado and across our country. Innovative companies like these are protecting our quality of life and preserving America’s natural wonders for generations to come.”

About the Clean Tech Open

The Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech business competition. Our mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. The program provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships to turn ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Since 2006, through its one-of-a-kind annual business competition and mentorship program, the Cleantech Open has helped hundreds of clean technology startups bring their breakthrough ideas to fruition, helping alumni contestants raise over $125m and making thousands of green collar jobs possible. Fueled by a network of more than 400 volunteers and sponsors, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America’s clean tech sector a thriving economic engine. For more information, visit http://www.cleantechopen.com, and follow @cleantechopen on Twitter.

About Rivertop Renewables

Based in Missoula, Montana, Rivertop Renewables is innovating a new category of science – “Progressive Chemistry.” Merging proven science with renewable resources, Rivertop Renewables is creating an abundant and economical supply of sustainable and non-toxic chemicals and bioproducts. Rivertop products are biodegradable and built from renewable plant sugars. More information is available at the website http://www.rivertop.com.

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Jason Kiely, Director of Marketing * 406-549-6126 x2 (office)

Rivertop Renewables * 406-239-9432 (mobile)

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