People worth knowing in biofuels, part I

The following is one in an ongoing series introducing readers to the speakers at the upcoming Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, in Washington, DC, April 2-5, 2012.

For more information on the conference, including agenda, registration or sponsorship, click here.

Today, we look at the morning session on Tuesday, April 3, from the the opening keynote to the Government Policies and Policy Outlook.

John Melo, CEO, Amyris. Who better to open ABLC this year as we address our theme of “Go Big, Stay Strong” ? John and Amyris have been a pioneer in Brazil, in advanced fermentation, in the capital light model, in making strategic investment with giant companies like Cosan and Total work, and in making the transition from private to public company.

Harry S. Baumes, Director, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA. There’s been no better industry partner in commercializing advanced technologies than USDA. What are their goals for the years ahead, as we turn to the 2012 Farm Bill, defining the next several years of USDA support for bioenergy and rural economic development? Harry Baumes will take us through the landscape.

Brent Erickson, Executive Vice President, BIO. If the phrase “renewable chemicals” means something to your business, Brent Erickson and BIO should be at the top of your thank-you list. They have been targeting “the whole barrel” for longer than anyone, and have been a consistent advocate for rational policy that fosters commercial-ready technologies and gets them deployed into commercial solutions that add up to transformation from oil.

Mike McAdams, President, Advanced Biofuels Association. Drop-in fuels, anyone? Their popularity on Capitol Hill has a lot to do with ABFA and its passionate leader, Mike McAdams. Perhaps the fastest-growing membership of any association – the product of a strong board and leadership, but also a strong message. Besides, there’s no one quite like Mike, in telling it like it is on Capitol Hill.

Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board. Joe’s new to ABLC this year. Biodiesel has been carrying the load for the Renewable Fuel Standard, meeting challenging targets with actual production, and keeping its eye steadily on market adoption, as well as increasingly focusing on supporting new feedstocks for market expansion.

Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director, Algal Biomass Organization. The hope of so many – that algae will find a market, reach scale, hit cost targets, and solve so many of the feedstock challenges of advanced bioenergy. But algae is about nutrition, nutraceuticals and a lot more. How that balances with the mecca-market of fuels, and how to balance algae’s position within the RFS – well, that’s one of the reasons that Mary is a person well worth knowing.

All about ABLC

Read all about the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, here.