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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.21

                                 [LETTERHEAD OF CATALYTICA ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.]

February 16, 2001

Ronald L. Alto

Dear Ron:

I am pleased to confirm our offer of employment as a Vice President, Sales and
Services for Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.(CESI).  As you know, CESI is
entering an exciting period in its growth and we look forward to you
contributing significantly to our future success.

Your start date will be on or about March 1, 2001 and you will be headquartered
in our Scottsdale, Arizona facility.

The information below summarizes the terms of this offer.

Compensation
------------

Your salary will be $11,667 per month, which annualizes to $140,000. We expect
our compensation plan to include an additional annual bonus and stock option
opportunity.  Details of the 2001 plan will be finalized and communicated in the
next few weeks.  As part of your hiring agreement you will be granted options in
the amount of 10,000 shares of Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. These options
will be granted shortly after your start date and will be priced at the date of
grant.  They will be subject to the standard 4-year vesting schedule. You will
also receive a sign-on bonus of $10,000.  You will receive the sign on bonus on
your start date March 1, 2001.

Note:  Your next merit increase and option grant review will be March of 2002,
----
consistent with our annual compensation process.

Ron, please recognize that stock option values and future bonus awards are not
guaranteed.  They will be based on company and individual performance.

Benefits
--------

Effective upon your date of hire, you and your eligible dependents will be
covered under the Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. health (medical, dental, and
prescription drugs), long term disability, and life insurance plans. On July 1,
2001 you will be able to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at a
discounted price.  You will be eligible to participate in the 401(k) retirement
plan on the first of the month following three months of employment.  The 401(k)
plan includes a 60% match (up to 6% of your contribution) and immediate vesting
of all company contributions.  You will be eligible for four weeks paid
vacation; holidays and sick time earned on an accrual basis from your date of
hire.
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Ronald Alto
Page 2 of 2

Your employment with Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. is on an "at will" basis
which means that either you or the Company can terminate the employment
relationship at any time with or without cause.  This offer is contingent upon
acceptable results of a routine background check and a pre-employment drug-
screening test.  Catalytica must receive results of the drug test before any
start date.  Please contact Regina Machado at (650) 940-6323 to make the
appropriate arrangements with you.

We look forward to you becoming a key member of the Catalytica Energy Systems
Leadership team.  Please indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing below
and returning the original to me.  This offer is valid through Friday, February
23, 2001.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Craig N. Kitchen
Craig N. Kitchen
CEO and President

I accept the offer of employment with Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., described
in this letter.  I also understand that this letter is not a contract of
employment.

/s/ Ronald L. Alto      2-19-01
------------------------------------------
Ronald L. Alto          Date<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22

                             CONSULTING AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 16th day of December 2000
("Effective Date") by and between Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc., located at
430 Ferguson Drive, Mountain View, California 94043-5272 (hereinafter referred
to as ("CESI") and Jackie Cossmon (hereinafter referred to as "Consultant").

     THE PARTIES AGREE as follows:

     1.   Services
          --------

          During the term of this Agreement, Consultant shall make available to
CESI his services to advise and otherwise assist CESI in the area of investor
relations, public relations and marketing communications.  The scheduling and
scope of such services will be determined by mutual agreement between CESI and
Consultant.

     2.   Compensation
          ------------

          CESI agrees to pay Consultant, and Consultant agrees to accept for
Consultant's services under this Agreement compensation at the rate of $125 per
hour, plus approved travel and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in rendering services hereunder.  In lieu of an hourly rate for days that
Consultant travels on the Company's behalf, CESI agrees to pay Consultant a per
diem travel rate of $500.  CESI also agrees to issue to Consultant Catalytica
Energy Systems stock options in the amount of 5000 shares with the following
vesting schedule: 2500 shares to vest on March 31, 2001 and 2500 shares to vest
on June 30, 2001.  CESI will provide payment in accordance with this paragraph
within thirty (30) days of receipt of an invoice from Consultant itemizing the
number of hours on which services were rendered and any incidental expenses
incurred in rendering such services.  All payments, including reimbursements for
actual expenditures, shall be included in Consultant's gross income as
compensation for services rendered and accordingly reported on Consultant's IRS
Form 1099.  Consultant is responsible for payment of all state and federal taxes
(including FICA taxes) on income earned under this Agreement, as none will be
withheld by CESI.

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     3.   Independent Contractor
          ----------------------

     It is agreed that Consultant is to have complete freedom of action as to
the details, methods, and means of performing the consulting services.  It is
further understood that Consultant has contracted with CESI only for the
purposes and to the extent set forth in this Agreement and its relation to CESI
is that of an independent Consultant, and Consultant shall be free to dispose of
such portion of its entire time, energy, and skill as Consultant is not
obligated to devote hereunder to CESI in such a manner as Consultant sees fit
and to others as Consultant deems advisable so long as same does not create a
conflict of interest between CESI and such others.  During the term of this
Agreement, Consultant agrees not to perform research, consultant, or development
services for any other company, corporation or commercial enterprise in the area
catalytic combustion applied to gas turbines.  Neither Consultant nor his
employees, agents and/or subcontractors shall be considered under the provisions
of this Agreement or otherwise as having a status as an employee of CESI nor
shall Consultant or its employees, agent and/or subcontractors be entitled
hereafter to participate in any plans, arrangements, or distributions by CESI
relating to any pension, deferred compensation, bonus, stock bonus,
hospitalization, insurance, or other benefits extended to employees, since
Consultant is performing the service hereunder as an independent Consultant.

     4.   Term and Termination
          --------------------

          This Agreement shall come into being on its Effective Date and will
continue in effect unless either Consultant or CESI terminate this Agreement at
any time by giving thirty (30) days notice of termination.  In addition, if
Consultant breaches any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement, CESI may,
without foregoing thereby any other rights or remedies it may have, at its
option, terminate Consultant's services immediately upon notice to Consultant
and in writing.  Termination under this paragraph shall not affect Consultant's
obligations under paragraphs 6 and 7 below.  Further, in the event of any such
early termination, Consultant shall be paid compensation accrued prior to
termination, but Consultant shall not be entitled to any other payment on
account of such termination, whether by way of claims for damages, or for loss
of anticipated profits, or otherwise.

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     5.   Ownership of Work Product
          -------------------------

          All work performed for CESI by Consultant hereunder (including, but
not limited to, all information, data, reports, working notes, drawings, design,
and specifications developed or prepared by Consultant in connection with such
work) shall become the property of CESI, unless specifically otherwise agreed
upon in writing by CESI and Consultant.

     6.   Non-Disclosure
          --------------

          Consultant shall use his best efforts and exercise utmost diligence to
protect, guard, and maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information (as
defined in Paragraph 10).  Except as required in performance of Consultant's
services for CESI, Consultant will never directly, indirectly, or otherwise,
use, permit others to use, disseminate, disclose, lecture upon, or publish
articles concerning Confidential Information, without CESI's prior written
consent.  Further, Consultant agrees to return Confidential Information supplied
by CESI and any copies thereof upon completion of services relating to the
Confidential Information or upon CESI's written request to do so.

     7.   Inventions, etc.
          ----------------

          All Inventions (as defined in Paragraph 10) made, conceived or
completed by Consultant, individually or in conjunction with others, shall be
the sole and exclusive property of CESI if said Inventions:

          (a)  are made with any of CESI's equipment, supplies, facilities or
trade secrets; or

          (b)  are conceived or made by Consultant during the hours Consultant
is working for CESI; or

          (c)  relate to Confidential Information; or

          (d)  result from any work performed by Consultant for CESI.

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           Consultant shall, without royalty or any other further consideration
to Consultant therefore, but at the expense of CESI:

          (aa)  as promptly as known or possessed by Consultant, disclose to
CESI all information with respect to said inventions;

          (bb)  whenever requested to do so by CESI, promptly executed and
assign any and all applications, assignments and other instruments which CESI
shall deem necessary to apply for and obtain Letters Patent of the United States
and of foreign countries for said Inventions, and to assign and convey to CESI
or to CESI's nominee the sole exclusive rights, title and interest in and to the
Inventions or any applications or patents thereon;

          (cc)  whenever requested to do so by CESI deliver to CESI evidence
for interference purposes or other legal proceedings and testify in any
interference or other legal proceedings; and

          (dd)  do such other acts as may be necessary in the opinion of CESI
to obtain and maintain United States and foreign Letters Patent for the
Inventions.

          The foregoing provisions (as appropriate) shall also apply to
copyrights for copyrightable subject matter.

      8.  Survival of Certain Agreements
          ------------------------------

          The covenants and agreements set forth in Paragraphs 6 and 7 shall
survive termination of this Agreement and Consultant's services hereunder, and
remain in full force and effect regardless of the cause of such termination.

      9.  Binding Effect
          --------------

          This Agreement shall be binding upon Consultant, and, except as
regards personal services, upon Consultant's heirs, personal representatives,
executors and administrators, and shall inure to the benefit of CESI, its
successors and assigns.

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     10.  Definitions
          -----------

          As used in this Agreement:

          (a)  "Confidential Information" means information disclosed to
Consultant or known by Consultant as consequence of or through performance of
services for CESI whether or not related to his duties at CESI and includes
trade secrets or any other like information of value relating to the business
and/or field of interest of any corporation, firm or partnership directly or
indirectly controlled by CESI through more than thirty percent (30%) ownership
interest, including, but not limited to, information relating to inventions,
disclosures, processes, systems, methods, formulas, patents, patent
applications, machines, material, research activities and plans, cost of
production, contract forms, prices, volume of sales, promotional methods, and
lists of names or classes of customers.  Information shall be considered, for
purposes of this Agreement, to be confidential if not known by the trade
generally, even though such information has been disclosed to one or more third
parties pursuant to any other agreement entered into by CESI or any of its
affiliates.

          Confidential Information shall not include information which
Consultant can show:

          (aa) was in the public domain at the time of disclosure; or

          (bb) after disclosure, becomes a part of the public domain by
publication or otherwise through no violation of this Agreement; or

          (cc) was, at the time of disclosure, shown to be in possession of
Consultant, and Consultant is able to so demonstrate possession of this
Confidential Information in writing to CESI within sixty (60) days of receipt of
Confidential Information, or forego application of this provision; or

          (dd) is, subsequent to its disclosure to Consultant, disclosed to
Consultant without obligation of confidence by a third party who did not acquire
the same directly or indirectly from an obligation of secrecy.

          Confidential Information disclosed or developed under this Agreement
shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing exceptions merely because such

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information is embraced by more general information in the public domain or in
Consultant's possession.

          (aaa)  "Inventions" means any and all discoveries, concepts and ideas,
whether patentable or not, including, but not limited to, processes, methods,
formulas, compositions, techniques, articles and machines, as well as
improvements thereof or know-how related thereto, relating to the business
and/or field or interest of CESI or any corporation, firm or partnership
directly or indirectly controlled by CESI or through more than a thirty percent
(30%) ownership interest.

     11.  Assignment
          ----------

          This Agreement shall not be assignable by the Consultant without the
prior written consent of CESI; any attempted assignment is void.

     12.  Entire Agreement
          ----------------

          This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties,
no representations having been made by any of the parties except as are herein
specifically set forth.  No rights or obligations other than those expressly
recited herein are to be implied from this Agreement.  It may be amended only by
an agreement in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of any
waiver, amendment modification, extension or discharge is sought.  Nothing
herein shall require the parties to enter into further agreements.

     13.  Interpretation
          --------------

          The validity, interpretation, and effect of this Agreement shall be
governed in all aspects by California laws.

     14.  Notices
          -------

          Any correspondence or notifications concerning this Agreement will be
addressed to CESI as follows:

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                           Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.
               Attention:_______________________________________
                                 430 Ferguson Drive
                            Mountain View, CA 94043-5272

                                      and

                                Jackie Cossmon

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CESI and Consultant have executed this
     Agreement on the date specified below.

                                            CATALYTICA ENERGY
                                            SYSTEMS, INC.

                                            By /s/ Craig N. Kitchen
                                               ---------------------------------

Date      2-28-01                           Title President & CEO
     -------------------                          ------------------------------

                                            CONSULTANT

Date      2/28/01                           By /s/ Jackie Cossmon
     -------------------                       ---------------------------------

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