FirmGreen Named ExIm Bank Renewable-Energy Exporter of the Year

FirmGreen’s green technology exports create jobs and serve the world’s largest biogas project of its type

FirmGreen Inc. (FirmGreen), a small renewable-energy company based in Newport Beach, Calif., announces that it received the Renewable-Energy Exporter of the Year award from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The award was presented today at the Bank’s 38th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

“FirmGreen is a great example of how American companies can remain globally competitive in the renewable energy sector,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “With great products and innovative ideas, there is no doubt that FirmGreen is a leader in this exciting field. I am proud that FirmGreen is receiving our Renewable-Energy Exporter award and look forward to working with them on future projects that protect our environment while promoting and sustaining U.S. jobs.”

In 2012, FirmGreen and other U.S. green-technology suppliers benefited from a $48.6 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) supporting exports of equipment and services for the development of the Novo Gramacho biogas project in Brazil — the world’s largest biogas project of its type. FirmGreen estimates that the biogas project directly generated 165 new jobs at its facilities and at other companies in seven states: Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, California, Michigan, Missouri and Texas.

The loan borrower, Gas Verde S.A., is the project owner and will operate the Novo Gramacho biogas plant located at the 140-hectare Jardim Gramacho landfill near Rio de Janeiro. One of the world’s largest solid-waste landfills, Jardim Gramacho was the subject of “Waste Land,” an internationally acclaimed documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011. The biogas plant will convert the site’s “dirty” methane gas (a by-product of trash decomposition that lingers for years and is more environmentally harmful than carbon dioxide) into clean, usable biomethane gas.

“FirmGreen is a great example of how American companies, with great products and innovative ideas, can remain globally competitive while creating hundreds of Green jobs,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg.

“Ex-Im Bank has enabled us to expand from the domestic market to a strong and growing export business, thanks to critical financing and technical advice nobody else would provide,” said FirmGreen CEO Steve Wilburn. “Chairman Hochberg and his outstanding team of professionals helped us, a small business, successfully navigate through the seemingly daunting maze of international trade and finance rules and regulations.”

Ex-Im Bank’s 2013 Annual Conference features prominent members of the business and government community including Vice President Joe Biden, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, former National Security Advisor General James Jones, Xerox Corporation CEO Ursula Burns, and Citibank Chairman Michael O’Neill. A full listing of speakers, panelists, and session topics at the 2013 Annual Conference is available on Ex-Im’s website.

About FirmGreen:
FirmGreen Inc. is a privately held, integrated energy company that participates in virtually all aspects of the global green-energy business. FirmGreen identifies, develops and commercializes new and emerging technologies and alternative fuels. Headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., the company has 37 employees in it management and manufacturing facilities. The company also has U.S.-based employees in Brazil. For more information on this privately held, entrepreneurial organization, please visit www.firmgreen.com, Facebook and Twitter.

For interviews requests with FirmGreen’s CEO Steve Wilburn, please contact Corporate Office Manager, Margaret von Tiesenhausen, at 949.270.2941, margaret@firmgreen.com

About Ex-Im Bank:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years (from Fiscal Year 2008), Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

Ex-Im Bank approved nearly $35.8 billion in total authorizations in FY 2012 – an all-time Ex-Im record. This total includes more than $6.1 billion directly supporting small-business export sales – also an Ex-Im record. Ex-Im Bank’s total authorizations are supporting an estimated $50 billion in U.S. export sales and approximately 255,000 American jobs in communities across the country. For more information, visit www.exim.gov. Ex-Im CONTACT: Jamie Radice, (202) 565-3200