Check back again soon for information on the 2009 conference.
Nashville recording artist and Iowa native Shannon Brown performed at the Networking Reception. VeraSun Energy has partnered with Shannon Brown to raise awareness of ethanol in a way that everyone can relate to – through music.
The Renewable Fuels Association’s 13th annual National Ethanol Conference: Policy & Marketing, Changing the Climate, was a tremendous success.
A record audience of nearly 2,500 gathered to network and participate in a top-notch program. Attendees heard RFA President Bob Dinneen's annual State of the Industry Address, which included new statistics on the industry's impact on the U.S. economy in 2007. Speakers also discussed ethanol's impact on the environment and food prices, cellulose ethanol technology, the 2007 energy bill and the expanded RFS, infrastructure demands and the international biofuels market.
The U.S. Department of Energy, represented by Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner, announced almost $34 million in grant funding to develop improved enzyme systems to convert cellulosic material into sugars suitable for the production of biofuels.
For more details, we encourage you to visit our conference blog.
For the first time, the RFA implemented a comprehensive program to green the conference by focusing on the four R’s of Sustainability: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The RFA ensured that the production of the conference (electricity and natural gas usage) and attendee travel did not increase the burden of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere by purchasing carbon credits. These credits offset carbon emissions by investing in alternative, renewable energy projects.
This information was last updated March 3, 2008.
| 4:00 - 8:00 pm |
Registration |
| 10:00 am - 8:00 pm |
Registration |
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8:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Annual Golf Tournament
ChampionsGate Golf Club
(sponsored by TrinityRail)
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| 6:00 - 8:00 pm |
Opening Reception
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
(sponsored by Fagen, Inc.)
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Live Agri-Talk Radio Broadcast
(sponsored by Pioneer, A DuPont Company)
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| 7:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Registration
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| 7:00 - 8:00 am |
Continental Breakfast
(sponsored by CoBank)
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| 8:00 am - 12:30 pm |
General Session |
| 8:00 am |
Welcome Remarks
Chris Standlee, Chairman, Renewable Fuels Association and Executive Vice President, Abengoa Bioenergy Corp.
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| 8:10 am |
State of the Industry Address
Bob Dinneen, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
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| 8:40 am |
Panel Discussion
How the Ethanol Industry is Changing the Climate, for the Better
A look at today’s ethanol industry and its impact on the economy, environment and consumers.
Rick Tolman, CEO, National Corn Growers Association
Bruce Scherr, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Informa Economics, Inc.
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| 9:20 am |
Panel Discussion
RFS Implementation Under the 2007 Energy Bill
Experts will discuss the ongoing implementation of the Renewable Fuels Standard, with special attention to the recently signed 2007 Energy Bill and the expanded RFS moving forward.
Chuck Knauss, Partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP
Paul Machiele, Fuels Program Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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| 10:00 am |
Refreshment Break
(sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP)
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| 10:30 am |
Featured Discussion
A provocative dialogue on the impacts of biofuels on global climate change.
Michael O'Hare, Professor of Public Policy, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley
Brooke Coleman, Executive Director, New Fuels Alliance
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| 11:00 am |
Special Presentation
Understanding the Climate of Public Opinion
National pollster discusses opinions towards renewable fuels and ethanol.
Peter Hart, Chairman, Peter D. Hart Research Associates
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| 11:30 am |
Panel Discussion
Washington Insiders’ Roundtable
A perennial favorite, Congressional aides and inside-the-Beltway advocates will provide their outlook for legislative and policy action for the year as well as the 2008 elections.
Moderator: Bob Dinneen, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
Keith Cole, Director, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs - Environment, General Motors
Jim Ford, Vice President, Government Affairs, American Petroleum Institute
Nathanael Greene, Senior Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Defense Council
Scott Shiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
Emily Olson, Director of Public Policy, National Corn Growers Association
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| 12:30 - 2:00 pm |
Luncheon Keynote Address
Alexander Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
(sponsored by ICM, Inc.)
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| 2:00 - 5:00 pm |
Concurrent Breakout Sessions |
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Session 1: Technological Advances Driving the Modern Ethanol Industry:
Participants will discuss how novel applications in energy efficiency are reducing energy usage and improving energy inputs for ethanol production.
Moderator: John Caupert, Director, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center
J. J. Moffat, Energy Specialist, Total Energy Concepts
Jerod Smeenk, Engineering Manager, Frontline BioEnergy
Will Duensing, President, Cereal Process Technologies
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Session 2: The Outlook for E85:
A Status report on legislative, regulatory and market incentives to increase E85 distribution and use.
Moderator: Bill Honnef, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, VeraSun Energy Corp.
Robert White, Director of Operations, Ethanol Promotion & Information Council
Mary Beth Stanek, Director of Environment and Energy, General Motors
David Winslow, Senior Director Engineering & Environmental Sustainability, Universal Orlando Resort
Ken Boyce, Principal Engineer, North America, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
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Session 3: What will the Future Feedstocks for Ethanol Look Like?
A review of the diverse array of potential cellulosic feedstock options for ethanol production.
Moderator: Jeff Passmore, Executive Vice President, Iogen Corp.
Ismail Dweikat, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Tom Foust, Biofuels Resarch Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Edwin White, Director, Renewable Energy, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry |
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Session 4: The Federal Perspective on Distillers Grains:
Government officials will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing distillers grains from ethanol production.
Moderator: Raymond Defenbaugh, President, Big River Resources West Burlington LLC
Eric Jabs, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, USDA/GIPSA
Linda Benjamin, Chemist, FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine
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| 3:30 pm |
Refreshment Break
(sponsored by Northern Natural Gas)
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| 4:00 pm |
Concurrent Breakout Sessions continued |
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Session 1: Distillers Grains Research:
Experts will discuss their most recent research involving distillers grains in livestock rations as well as other new uses.
Moderator: Geoff Cooper, Director of Commercialization & Business Development, National Corn Growers Association
Dr. Hans Stein, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Kurt Rosentrater, Lead Scientist, USDA-ARS
Dr. Amy Batal, Poultry Nutritionist, University of Georgia |
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Session 2: What the Smart Companies are Doing Financially:
A discussion of the financing options available in the changing climate of the ethanol industry.
Moderator: Ron Miller, President and CEO, Aventine Renewable Energy,Inc.
Brian Bolster, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
David Perlman, Managing Director, Fieldstone Private Capital Group, Inc.
Paul Ho, Director, Energy Group, Credit Suisse
John McKenna, Managing Director, Hamilton Clark & Co.
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Session 3: Cellulose Technology:
An in-depth discussion of the process technologies and pathways for producing cellulosic ethanol.
Moderator: John Howe, Vice President, Public Affairs, Verenium
Sarah Teter, Senior Scientist II, Novozymes, Inc.
Landon Steele, Director, Program Management, Biorefinery Group, Danisco USA Inc. - Genencor Division
Wes Bolsen, Chief Marketing Office and VP, Coskata, Inc.
Sarad Parekh, VP of Research & Development, SunEthanol, Inc.
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Session 4: VEETC Implementation
IRS officials will discuss efforts to include ethanol production and blending in its electronic system for the monthly reporting of liquid motor fuels excise taxes.
Moderator: Jim Redding, Vice President - External Relations, Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc.
Timothy Torri, ExSTARS Compliance Manager, Internal Revenue Service
Rich Little, Internal Revenue Service
Al Howard, Consultant, Al Howard Consultants
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| 5:00 - 7:00 pm |
Networking Reception
(sponsored by POET followed by concert by country music star Shannon Brown courtesy of VeraSun Energy)
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Live Agri-Talk Radio Broadcast
(sponsored by Pioneer, A DuPont Company)
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| 7:00 am |
Sunrise Breakfast Session I
Prioritizing Ethanol Safety:
Experts will address the industry’s programs and educational efforts to ensure the continued safety of employees, community neighbors and first responders.
Moderator: Jim Redding, Vice President - External Relations, Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc.
William Schoonover, Federal Railway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
Carl Johnson, Administrator, U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
|
| 7:00 am |
Sunrise Breakfast Session II
The Outlook for E20 Blends:
An overview of recent testing on materials compatibility, driveability and emissions.
Moderator: Kristy Moore, Director of Technical Services, Renewable Fuels Association
Kevin Cullen, GM Technical Fellow, GM Powertrain Engineering
Ralph Groschen, Senior Marketing Specialist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Kevin Stork, Team Leader for Fuels Technologies, EE/RE, U.S. Department of Energy
|
| 7:00 - 8:00 am |
Continental Breakfast
(sponsored by Genencor A Danisco Company)
|
| 8:00 am - 12:30 pm |
General Session |
| 8:00 am |
Special Presentation
Farm Bill Update
USDA will provide a status report on the 2008 Farm Bill, with a focus on renewable fuel policies and provisions.
Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA
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| 8:30 am |
Panel Discussion
Changing Nature of the Media:
Members of the media will discuss how today’s stories are influenced and formed and the impact it’s having on the ethanol industry.
Moderator: Mike Adams, Host, Agri-Talk
Tom Waterman, Publisher, The Ethanol Monitor
Bryan Gruley, Chicago Bureau Chief, Wall Street Journal
|
| 9:15 am |
Panel Discussion
The International Biofuels Market:
Panelists will address the globalization of the biofuels industry, including world production and use as well as trade.
Moderator: Bob Dinneen, President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association
Gordon Quaiattini, President, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association
Robert Vierhout, Secretary General, eBIO
Joel Velasco, Chief Representative, Brazilian Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA)
|
| 10:00 am |
Refreshment Break
(sponsored by FCStone)
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| 10:30 am |
Panel Discussion
Infrastructure Demands for a Growing Industry:
Experts will address how industry is increasing rail and terminal capacity to supply the growing demand for ethanol coast to coast.
Moderator: Kristy Moore, Director of Technical Services, Renewable Fuels Association
Robert Reynolds, President, Downstream Alternatives, Inc.
Paul Hammes, Vice President and General Manager-Ag Products, Union Pacific Railroad
Jim Lelio, Director, Business Development, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP
Dave O'Loughlin, Vice President of Liquid Sales & Customer Service, Ingram Barge
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| 11:30 am |
Panel Discussion
Cellulose Ethanol Technology:
A popular session last year, developers will provide updates on their cellulose ethanol production projects and the outlook for commercialization.
Moderator: Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Program Manager, Office of the Biomass Program, U.S. Department of Energy
Gerson Santos-Leon, Director of Research & Development, Abengoa Bioenergy Corp.
Jeff Lautt, Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations, POET
John Howe, Vice President, Public Affairs, Verenium Corporation
Stephen Gatto, CEO, BioEnergy International, LLC
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| 12:30 pm |
Closing Remarks |
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Final Attendee List, By Name
