New Sky, Cool Energy reach finals

BOULDER – Two Boulder based firms, New Sky Energy Inc. and Cool Energy Inc., were named among the top four clean-tech companies in the Rocky Mountain region during the Cleantech Open, a clean technology competition.

Boulder-based New Sky, which developed a technology to capture carbon dioxide and turn it into products like soda ash and limestone that can be used to make plastic, glass and other building material, was among the top three finalists in the competition.

The company will receive $50,000 in cash and services.

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Boulder-based Cool Energy, which developed a system that converts low-temperature heat into electricity, was named the sole winner of the regional sustainability award. Cool Energy will receive $10,000 in cash and services.

“The competition is designed to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges,” according to a press release.

Golden-based Energistic Systems LLC and Missoula, Mont.-based Rivertop Renewables Inc. joined New Sky to round out the three finalists. The three were chosen from a pool of 64 entrepreneurs from the region.

As finalists, the companies, as well as Cool Energy, the region’s sustainability award winner, will compete for up to $100,000 in cash and $150,000 in services at an awards Gala Tuesday, Nov. 17. The companies also get exposure to venture capitalists and government organizations that often award various clean-tech grants.

Sponsors of the Cleantech Open include the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Faegre & Benson, Holland & Hart, Marsh Fishmann & Breyfogle, EKS&H, Miller Coors, Burt Automotive, Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, Jones Lange LaSalle, CCIA, ICOSA, KPMG, Sandia National Laboratories, Republic National, Colorado SBDC, VanGilder Insurance, Swedish Medical Center and Metro Denver Wired.