(September 27, 2012) Omaha - The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) announced today that Mick Henderson, General Manager of Commonwealth Agri-Energy in Hopkinsville, Kentucky has been elected Secretary of the organization. Commonwealth Agri-energy is a 33 million gallon per year ethanol facility.

Henderson has been with Commonwealth Agri-Energy since 2003, whose ethanol plant came online in 2004. He has been in the industry for the most part since 1981.  He is in charge of all functions at the facility including plant construction, negotiating vender contracts, hiring and training all personnel, and developing all company policies and programs. Since 2009 Henderson has served as Treasurer of the Renewable Fuels Foundation (RFF), the educational arm of the RFA.

“This is an industry that has grown so much in the past decade. Domestically produced ethanol is now blended into 97% of our nation’s fuel supply and has helped reduce the need for imported oil by 485 million barrels per year, or roughly 13% of U.S. crude oil imports,” said Henderson. “There are so many great opportunities ahead for the ethanol industry, providing consumers with more fuel options, continuing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and producing advanced and cellulosic ethanol with new technologies from different feedstocks. I am honored and look forward to leading members of the RFA who have helped shape the industry into what it is today, and are paving the way for its future.”

Henderson has served on the RFA Board of Directors since 2006. He was elected to a one-year term as Secretary at the RFA Annual Meeting held this week in Omaha, NE.

About Commonwealth Agri-Energy: Commonwealth Agri-Energy, LLC is proudly owned by the 2,300 members of the Hopkinsville Elevator CO-OP. As Kentucky’s only corn-to-ethanol biorefinery, the facility produces 33 million gallons of ethanol annually from 12 million bushels of local corn. Additionally, they produce 107,000 tons of Distillers Dried Grains, 3,000 tons of Distillers Corn Oil, and 110,000 tons of carbon dioxide for liquid CO2 and dry ice. Learn more at http://www.commonwealthagrienergy.com/. 

About the RFA: The Renewable Fuels Association is the leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry. Its mission is to advance the development, production, and use of ethanol fuel by strengthening America’s ethanol industry and raising awareness about the benefits of renewable fuels. RFA’s 200 members are working to help America become cleaner, safer, more energy independent and economically secure. RFA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of one representative of each ethanol producing company. All Board Members get a vote in setting association policy. Visit www.EthanolRFA.org.