BenchMark Energy Corporation and the University of North Dakota Develop Cleaner, More Efficient Coal Usage

HOUSTON, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BenchMark Energy Corporation (OTC: BMRK). BenchMark Energy Corporation is pleased to announce that is has finalized an agreement with the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks ND (UND) to deliver 150,000 gallons of glycerin per month for use in its coal fired powered plants.

BenchMark and its subsidiary, Energy Partners, LLC, are scheduled to deliver the first 45,000 gallons of glycerin on or before November 27, 2011. This agreement could increase BenchMark's revenue by as much as $97,500 or more per month.

With limited modifications to existing coal plants, the UND will use the glycerin to improve the coal efficiency by combing glycerin with the coal.  The University plans to get from 10 to 20 percent of their total BTU energy needs from burning glycerin with their current coal operation.  By retrofitting the current boilers for the use of glycerin, UND could reduce their consumption of coal by 10 to 20 percent, and also reduce their current Greenhouse Gas Emissions by at least 10% without any increase to energy costs.

Adding glycerin will significantly reduce the emissions and impact on the local environment produced by coal combustion at UND's facility.  Glycerin as an additive to coal helps to reduce the consumption and emissions used in coal-fired power plants, which account for nearly 50% of U.S. electricity supply and about a third of U.S. emissions of CO2, the major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) associated with global climate change.

The University of North Dakota is one of the premier research centers in the world and recognized as one of the world's leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy and environmental technologies to protect and clean our air, water, and soil. UND was recently notified that it once again will be listed as one of the country's greenest schools, according to the Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges-2012 Edition.

For more information on Energy Partners, LLC, glycerin, its uses and benefits, and BenchMark Energy Corporation, please see our website at http://www.benchmarkenergy.net.  While the demand for glycerin has remained stable, the demand for refined glycerin, technical grade and higher, has risen.  BenchMark Energy has focused its attention on distribution and refinement of glycerin in the energy and pharmaceutical industries.

Safe Harbor Statement:  This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plan," "confident that," "believe," "scheduled," "expect," or "intend to," and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of BenchMark to complete the proposed acquisition(s), the results of BenchMark's due diligence review of the candidate(s), the success of the business of the acquisition candidate(s), including the ability of BenchMark to continue to sell the applicable products and the acceptance of those newly designed products by the market, market conditions, the general acceptance of the Company's products and technologies, competitive factors, timing, and other risks described in the Company's reports and filings.

Media and Investor Relations

Alex Livak and Robert Adams

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SOURCE BenchMark Energy Corporation

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