Domestic Fuel

The solar industry will be the focus of the upcoming SunShot Initiative Summit and Technology Forum on June 13-14, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE), the forum aims to develop a plan to achieve grid-parity solar energy within the decade.  To promote development, the DOE is sponsoring a Grand Challenge series designed to address the scientific, technological, and market barriers to achieving breakthroughs in national energy challenges.

The SunShot Summit and Technology Forum will include sessions featuring industry leaders and Energy Secretary Steven Chu; offer discussions focused on key priorities and transformational ideas needed to achieve the SunShot goal of cost-competitive solar by the end of the decade; and offer a technology forum featuring exhibits from a wide range of SunShot partners and grant recipients, as well as Department of Energy National Laboratories.

Leading up to the SunShot Initiative Summit, Energy.gov is running a special series that shares personal success stories from across America’s growing solar workforce – from finance experts, to scientists, to engineers. According to the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2011, more than 100,000 Americans are now employed in the solar industry. The kick-off, which took place yesterday, featured a solar industry slideshow, giving a look into the daily lives of the U.S. solar community at large.

“Proud History, Bright Future” is the theme for the upcoming 25th annual ACE Ethanol Conference to be held August 8-10th in Omaha, Nebraska. The conference will cover topics such as an outlook on markets and policies that will impact ethanol plant profitability; the role octane and vehicle technology innovations will play for ethanol demand; an update on E15 implementation; product and technology process innovations at ethanol plants; an update on cellulosic and advanced ethanol technologies; and more.

“Our 25th anniversary conference will provide forward-looking previews on the policy and market development opportunities and challenges facing the U.S. ethanol industry,” said Brian Jennings, ACE’s executive vice president. “Ethanol producers are feeling the effects of the E10 blend wall; we are in the midst of introducing E15 to the market; and expectations are high for progress on the advanced and cellulosic ethanol front.”

Jennings said the conference is a mix of general sessions and breakout sessions and many of them will be very useful for ethanol plant board members and management. Session titles include:

• ABC’s of E15
• Quality Assurance for Distillers Grain
• Fiduciary and Governance Responsibilities for Ethanol Plant Board Directors
• Feedstock Quality and Its Impact on Profitability
• Energy Market Price Outlook

Jennings added, “As we celebrate ACE’s 25th year, the conference will show how far we’ve come as an industry and how we as a grassroots organization are positioned to help the industry evolve, innovate, and succeed well into the future.”

Speakers will be announced soon. Click here for more information about the conference and to register.

Bioheat® is now be part of the largest energy events in the Northeast as they will join the Atlantic Region Energy Expo, reflecting a unique partnership with the National Biodiesel Board. The Atlantic Region Energy Expo and Bioheat is hosting the AREE 2012 event in Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 1 – 3. The conference, billed as the best energy, petroleum and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry tradeshow in the Northeast, will explore the evolving world of home and building comfort, efficiency and environmental responsibility.

The event features an educational track of five Bioheat sessions, which do not require a registration fee, thanks to funding from the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

“We’re proud that AREE is the first industry trade show and convention officially combining traditional fuels with the renewable biodiesel found in Bioheat,” said Eric DeGesero, executive vice president, Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey. The association was the catalyst for the founding of AREE 19 years ago. “But this represents more than a conference name change. It’s a sign of changing times for oilheat dealers, who recognize that Bioheat is their best option to adapt their businesses in the 21st century.”

The need for change is a powerful theme at this year’s conference as the oilheat industry works to remain competitive. That’s why the Bioheat team, led by Paul Nazzaro, the National Biodiesel Board’s liaison to the petroleum industry, is bringing in a keynote speaker to talk about change at the event. Michael Rogers, a renowned technology author and futurist, most recently served as futurist-in-residence for The New York Times. He focuses on how companies can think about the future in useful ways.

“As their market share contracts, doing nothing is not an option for oilheat dealers,” Nazzaro said. “Bioheat is the first real opportunity for them to make a progressive shift in decades. Bioheat is a more desirable product to their customers, offering enhanced energy security, benefits to health and the environment, and American jobs.”

The 2012 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo will be held at the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas, Nov. 27-29, 2012.

Organized by BBI International, the event brings together advanced biofuels producers, strategic petrochemical and agribusiness partners, government officials, investors and project finance professionals, technology and biomass supply-chain service companies.

The conference was successfully launched in 2011 as the International Biorefining Conference & Trade Show. In consultation with sponsors and supporting organizations, BBI changed the name of the event to highlight its critical role in helping the U.S. bioenergy and refining industries meet America’s explicit advanced biofuels quest.

The National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo will continue to focus on the scale-up, commercialization and market development of both advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals. Presentations will focus predominantly on domestic (U.S.) production, R&D, and project development. International industry issues, such as exports and imports, foreign biofuels production and policy, and feedstock issues, will be covered from a domestic viewpoint. The two-day agenda will answer critical questions facing the industry and will offer conference attendees an unparalleled opportunity to gain a broad understanding of where the U.S. advanced biofuels industry is, what challenges it faces, and where it is headed.

“RFS2 requires 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels to be blended into the U.S. transportation fuel supply by 2022,” says Joe Bryan, CEO of BBI International. “We have now aligned the conference and expo with that national mission.”

One of the most unique conferences of the year is getting ready to take place on June 20-21st in Minneapolis, MN. The “Finding Opportunity in a Changing Landscape” is the theme of this year’s conference, hosted by Christianson and Associates. A must attend for the financial gurus at the country’s ethanol and biodiesel companies, this year’s event will feature two tracks: one with a financial focus and one with a business management focus.

Tentative Sessions include: Impacting the Future of the Renewable Fuels Industry; Strategic Planning for Developing Company Culture; Maximizing the Tax Incentives for your Traditional Business Practices; Evaluating Mergers and Acquisitions from Both Sides of the Table; Organizing an Enterprise Risk Management Model for Your Company; and various technical updates on taxes, RIN’s, accounting and legislation.

You can get more information about the tentative agenda and learn how to register here. Don’t wait too long. This conference has limited space and sells out quickly. Registration is now open with early registration rates effective until May 20th.

Last year the wind industry worked together to create the “WindMade” designation, which means “runs on 100 percent wind power”. Today, it has been announced that the upcoming EWEA 2012 Conference & Exhibition will be the first ever WindMade event. The event is Apri 16-19, 2012 in Copenhagen.

EWEA’s CEO Christian Kjaer said he is proud to be the first organiser of a WindMade event. “EWEA strives to make its events sustainable, and to promote wind energy not only through political lobbying but also by making direct use ofwind power. EWEA is convinced that WindMade will drive investment into this technology, and we encourage other organsiations and events to follow our lead in becoming WindMade.”

To be deemed WindMade the entire conference is being powered by electricity generated from wind. This includes their offices where the event was planned, the Bella Center where the event is being held and all of the social events, some of which are taking place at locations other than the conference center.

“Many conference organisers are already making efforts to ‘green’ their events, and WindMade is pleased to present them with a tool for having their commitment to renewable power certified by a credible label,” said Henrik Kuffner, WindMade’s CEO.

The ethanol industry’s largest and longest-running conference, the 2012 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) & Expo, has released its agenda for this year’s annual event set for June 4-7, 2012 in Minneapolis, Minn.

The 2012 FEW is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees and will include national and international ethanol producers, investors, industry suppliers and policymakers. More than 140 speakers and four content-packed tracks highlight the show including:

Track 1: Production & Operations
Track 2: Leadership & Financial Management
Track 3: Co-eproducts & Product Diversification
Track 4: Cellulosic & Advanced Ethanol

See the full agenda including a list of current speakers.

“The 28th annual FEW is shaping up to be an exciting event,” said Tom Bryan, Vice President of BBI International. “With Bob Dinneen, President & CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association as one of our keynote speakers, in addition to our more than 140 session speakers, we believe this conference will provide attendees with exciting, current and relevant industry content.”

“Many have expressed concern about the end of VEETC and wondering what affects it will have,” said Nick Jensen, Program Manager for BBI International. “The first general session of the FEW will host five highly respected ethanol board members talking about living in the post VEETC world. Anyone serious about being a part of the ethanol industry moving forward will want to hear what they have to say.”

April 25-26, 2012 is the date for the new All-Florida Ag Show sponsored by Florida Grower and the Highland County Farm Bureau. The event will take place at the Highlands County Fair Convention Center in Sebring, Florida and will bring together a diverse group of agribusiness leaders ranging from fruits to vegetables to livestock to biofuels. There will also be a wide array of topics discussed during the show including labor, water, alternative energy, crop opportunities and more.

“The All Florida Ag Show is an important event to support as it provides a unique opportunity to anyone who has interest in Florida’s agriculture to meet under one roof and learn about new opportunities, as well as common challenges that our industry faces today and in the future,” stated Scott Kirouac, president of Highlands County Farm Bureau.

Several speakers have confirmed including Rich Budell, FDACS Water Policy Chief and Jack Payne, senior vice-president, UF/IFAS, John Hoblick, president, Florida Farm Bureau. In addition, Adam Putnam, Florida Agriculture Commissioner has been invited along with many other agricultural experts. There is also an expansive trade show area planned for the event.

For more information visit: www.allfloridaag.com.

The Nebraska Ethanol Board 2012 Emerging Issues Forum will be held next month in Omaha.

The forum will address current issues that are facing those involved in the ethanol industry at every level, including meeting the RFS2, RIN management and compliance, production diversity, commodities outlook and corn ethanol’s carbon footprint. Speakers on the topics are leaders in ethanol production, marketing, co-products, transportation, engineering, financing and environmental issues.

The two-day event will be held April 19-20 at the Magnolia Hotel in Omaha. Details and registration information are available on-line from the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

The chairman of the National Biodiesel Board will be presenting an update on the U.S. industry during a global biofuels conference next week.

Renewable Energy Group Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Gary Haer will present during the “Global Biodiesel Production and Trading” panel at the World Biofuels Markets Congress & Exhibition on Wednesday, March 14 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

“The U.S. biodiesel industry experienced phenomenal growth in 2011 with the sound, stable federal policy in place,” explained Haer. “As the biodiesel industry prepares to grow our role as North America’s commercialized, domestically-produced Advanced Biofuel, it is critical to work with customers, vendors and potential partners on an international scale to expand sustainable biodiesel production and enhance trading and business opportunities.”

The conference is organized by Greenpower Conferences.

The 2012 Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, presented by Biofuels Digest, is scheduled for April 2-5 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington D.C.

The main event will feature dozens of top officials from advanced biofuels companies, including industry leaders such as Amyris, Ceres, GEVO, Mascoma, Sapphire Energy, Solazyme, ZeaChem and many more. The conference also features two special full-day concurrent sessions April 5 – Military & Aviation Biofuels and the Bio-Based Investor Summit.

More information and registration details are available at advancedbiofuelssummit.com.

Eight students will receive a scholarship to attend the 17th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Accelerating Industry Innovation, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF).

This is the third year the scholarship has been available to students in higher education. Recipients receive complimentary registration to the conference and the opportunity to connect with hundreds of ethanol leaders, policy makers and experts in the renewable fuels industry.

The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is one of the preeminent conferences for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry. This year’s program will highlight how the ethanol industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing marketplace. With federal policy changing, the global, market-driven environment in which the industry must compete comes with new market challenges. Industry leaders and experts will address how we are meeting these new demands by accelerating innovation in technology, marketing, logistics and feedstocks for the production of advanced ethanol.

“It is very encouraging to see such high levels of interest in biofuels from students year after year through this program,” said Mike Jerke, RFF Chairman and General Manager for Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company. “Networking with experts in the U.S. ethanol industry gives these students a first-hand look behind an evolving industry and the direction it is heading. This is a chance for them to explore the opportunities the industry has to offer.”

Each scholarship recipient has focused their studies on renewable energy and biofuels and is interested in pursuing a career in the industry. Read more about the eight recipients of the NEC Scholarship.

If you did not register in advance for the 6th annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit, there will be registration available on site at the starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

It looks like the weather will be okay tomorrow so it will be worth the trip to see the four-star program the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has lined up this year. Speakers include Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, retired four-star General Paul J. Kern, Dr. Gal Luft of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, and much more.

The event runs from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and also features an exhibit area of companies and organizations in the biofuels industry. Hope to see you there!

January 19 is the deadline to pre-register for next week’s 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Des Moines, an event that no one in the ethanol and biodiesel industries should miss.

Among the highlights of the summit will be addresses by Governor Terry Branstad, four-star General Paul Kern (U.S. Army, ret.), former Reagan National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane and Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Dr. Gal Luft. And that’s just the morning session of the summit.

After lunch, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe will outline the national landscape for biodiesel on the heels of a record year of biodiesel production and what to expect in 2012 and beyond. That will be followed by a panel on “Synergies of Livestock and Ethanol” moderated by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will moderate a panel representing Iowa’s livestock and corn industries that will discuss the dynamics between ethanol and livestock production. Joining Secretary Northey will be Matt Deppe with Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Craig Floss with Iowa Corn Growers Association and Randy Ives with Gavilon Group LLC. The final event of the day will be a panel discussion on “E15 – the New Consumer Choice” where Ron Lamberty, American Coalition for Ethanol, and Greg Emick, W & H Coop, will share what consumers need to know in preparation for future use of E15 in 2001 and newer vehicles.

It’s all happening on January 24 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the new location of Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. Registration is free and open to anyone with an interest in renewable fuels. Rooms are still available at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott for the conference.

Hope to see you there!

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has made the state a leader in renewable fuels production and public policy, therefore he will address the 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 24th.

“Leadership from the top makes a difference and Governor Branstad has made a big difference for Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel producers,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Under his leadership, Iowa has taken a lead in proactive public policy for E15 and biodiesel. The renewable fuels community looks forward to hearing from the Governor regarding the implementation of these policies.”

Branstad will address the Summit at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 24. Other feature presentations will include four-star General Paul Kern (U.S. Army, ret.) who will discuss foreign oil’s impact on U.S. military operations. Former Reagan National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane will address breaking America’s addiction to foreign oil. Executive Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, Dr. Gal Luft, will spell out the real national security threats posed by our country’s dangerous dependence on foreign petroleum.

The Summit and trade show are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial/Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.